On the morning of August 18th, the opening ceremony for the Thai-Chinese Ambassador Camp Kunming was held at the Lianhua Campus of Kunming University of Science and Technology (KUST). Over 50 outstanding youth representatives from universities in China and Thailand gathered in the Spring City to begin a six-day study program in Kunming. The ceremony was attended by Tang Jiahua, Chairman of University Council of KUST; Paveewan Kanthiya, Consul General of the Kingdom of Thailand in Kunming; Wang Yu, Vice President of the Yunnan People's Association for Friendship with Foreign Countries; Romyen Kosaikanont, Vice President of Mae Fah Luang University (Thailand); Duan Xingwu, Vice President of Yunnan University; Chen Fei, Vice President of Yunnan Normal University; He Yongwen, Vice President of Kunming Medical University; Yu Jie, Vice President of Yunnan University of Chinese Medicine; along with relevant responsible persons from the Division of International Cooperation of the Yunnan Provincial Department of Education, international offices of various Chinese and Thai universities, School of international education, and other related departments. Yi Jianhong, Vice President of KUST, held the meeting.
Tang Jiahua, speaking at the opening ceremony, extended sincere gratitude on behalf of the university to the program initiator, Mae Fah Luang University, and the strong support from relevant departments on both the Chinese and Thai sides. He offered a warm welcome to the faculties, students and friends from China and Thailand, colleagues from the Yunnan education sector, and all distinguished guests. He stated that at this historic moment marking the 50th anniversary of the establishment of diplomatic relations between China and Thailand, gathering in Kunming to jointly launch theThai-Chinese Ambassador Camp will powerfully promote cross-cultural exchange and cooperation between the outstanding youth of the two countries. It is of great significance and a glorious mission to jointly explore future paths for sustainable development. He pointed out that the youth are the inheritors of China-Thailand friendship and the creators of the future between the two nations. He expressed his hope that the young friends would, with open and inclusive minds, enhance understanding and trust through cultural exchanges; with a pragmatic and innovative spirit, spark wisdom in academic discussions; and with a sense of responsibility, contemplate solutions to problems during field investigations, thereby establishing profound transnational friendships. He emphasized that as the leading Chinese university in the "Yunnan-Thailand University Alliance", KUST will continuously advance practical cooperation with Thai education, build higher-level exchange platforms for the youth of both countries, and contribute to the construction of a China-Thailand community with a shared future.
Wang Yu reviewed the traditional friendship and history of exchanges between Yunnan Province and Thailand. She stated that under the guidance of the joint construction of the "Belt and Road" initiative and RCEP, Yunnan has always implemented the important consensus reached by the leaders of China and Thailand and remains at the forefront of cooperation with Thailand. At this important moment of the 50th anniversary of China-Thailand diplomatic relations, the joint hosting of the Thai-Chinese Ambassador Camp: Jointly Building a Sustainable China-Thailand Community with a Shared Future by Yunnan and Thailand will undoubtedly continue to enhance the friendship between the youth of Yunnan and Thailand, writing a new chapter of "China and Thailand are one family" in the new era.
Paveewan Kanthiya expressed that Thailand and China are actively working to build a "Thailand-China Community with a Shared Future." People-to-people relations between Thailand and China are continuously developing and deepening. Today's Youth Forum is evidence of the steady progress of the strong bonds between Thailand and China. The young people of both countries will have the opportunity to explore and witness the development and opportunities on both sides, respecting each other's differences while pursuing common goals. She emphasized that the youth are the masters of the future. Bringing the young people of Thailand and China together today will not only help establish and expand friendly relations but also contribute to building a future filled with wisdom, virtue, and a common destiny for humanity.
Romyen Kosaikanont expressed her delight at visiting beautiful Kunming again. As the initiator of this project, she extended heartfelt thanks to the five renowned universities in Yunnan, especially KUST, for their support as co-hosts. She stated that the most fruitful cooperation is people-to-people exchange, which needs to be built on the foundation of mutual understanding and physical connectivity. This event aims to allow young people to conduct in-depth field investigations among the people. "Seeing once is better than hearing a hundred times," she said, encouraging them to insight into opportunities and challenges and pioneer new ideas for deepening cooperation. She also played a video of the earlier activities, vividly showcasing the highlights of the cooperation between the two sides.
Chinese and Thai student representatives shared their experiences and gains from the earlier activities. A Chinese student representative said, "We spent a fulfilling first half of the program in Thailand. Over two weeks, traveling from south to north, we deeply experienced Thai customs and culture, personally feeling what 'China and Thailand are one family' truly means."
The Kunming station activities will focus on cultural investigations, technological innovation, enterprise visits, healthcare, and ecological studies. The aim is to give camp members a more intuitive understanding of China's development experience, deepen cooperation between Chinese and Thai youth in multiple fields, cultivate young leaders with an international perspective, and inject new momentum into promoting regional sustainable, inclusive, and cross-border development.
It is reported that this camp is a commemorative event celebrating the 50th anniversary of the establishment of diplomatic relations between China and Thailand. It is jointly organized by Mae Fah Luang University, Prince of Songkla University, Mahidol University, along with Kunming University of Science and Technology, Yunnan University, Yunnan Normal University, Kunming Medical University, and Yunnan University of Chinese Medicine. The event takes place from August 3rd to 25th, 2025, sequentially in Bangkok, Songkhla, and Chiang Rai in Thailand, and Kunming and Beijing in China. It receives support from the Thai Ministry of Higher Education, Science, Research and Innovation, the Ministry of Foreign Affairs of Thailand, the Royal Thai Embassy in Beijing, the Royal Thai Consulate-General in Kunming, the Chinese Embassy in Thailand, and the Yunnan People's Association for Friendship with Foreign Countries. It is also incorporated into the framework of the Thailand-Yunnan Education Cooperation Forum.
Translated by: MA Bingyu, Division of International Cooperation
Source: School of International Education
Issued by: Division of International Cooperation
