Mr. Damrong Khaikruan, Deputy Permanent Secretary, Ministry of Foreign Affairs, led a delegation from the Department of East Asian Affairs, Ministry of Foreign Affairs, to attend the academic seminar on “Promoting Strategic Engagement with the Confucius Institutes under Thailand 4.0” on 2 – 3 March 2018 at Mae Fah Luang University, Chiang Rai.

Assoc. Prof. Dr. Vanchai Sirichana, President of Mae Fah Luang University, and H.E. Mr. Lyu Jian, Chinese Ambassador to Thailand, were also present and delivered remarks at the opening ceremony. Participants at the seminar included representatives from Thai and Chinese education sector as well as representatives from Confucius Institutes in Thailand.

The seminar served as a forum to exchange information and experiences among the Confucius Institutes in Thailand and to review the operations of the Confucius Institutes in Thailand. The aim was to further develop the Confucius Institutes in Thailand in line with the development policies of both Thailand and China, as well as to enhance the networking among the Confucius Institutes and strengthen the Thailand - China Comprehensive Strategic Cooperative Partnership more broadly.

Activities during the seminar encompassed presentations on the topics of “Development of Thailand – China Relations”, “Cooperation on Education between Thailand and China”, and “Operations of Confucius Institutes in Thailand”; and group discussions among the representatives from the Confucius Institutes in Thailand to share their experiences and put forward some suggestions on how the Confucius Institutes in Thailand could be more effective in supporting Thailand 4.0. In addition, the participants visited Sirindhorn Language and Culture Center, where the Confucius Institute of Mae Fah Luang University is located, and were briefed on the operations and activities of Mae Fah Luang University’s Confucius Institute.

Confucius Institutes have been established in Thailand for 12 years. At present, there are 16 Confucius Institutes locating in every region of Thailand. Thailand has the largest number of Confucius Institutes in ASEAN and the 2^nd largest in Asia after South Korea.