On May 13, 2017, Secretary of the CPC Leading Group and Vice Minister of the Ministry of Science and Technology Wang Zhigang met with the Thai delegation led by Minister of Science and Technology Atchaka Sibunruang who visited China for the Belt and Road Forum for International Cooperation. The two sides had an in-depth and candid exchange of views and reached multiple consensuses on China-Thailand science and technology cooperation.

Wang spoke highly of the fruitful results achieved by the two countries within the frameworks of the China-Thailand Joint Committee on Science and Technology Cooperation and the China-ASEAN Science and Technology Partnership Program and expressed appreciation for Thailand’s participation in the Belt and Road Initiative, especially as related to science, technology and innovation cooperation. Wang said that Thailand is an important partner on the 21st Century Maritime Silk Road and one of the exemplars in China-ASEAN innovation cooperation, expressing the hope that the two sides will advance and implement the consensuses of the joint committee, further strengthen people-to-people exchanges in S&T and seek science park cooperation.

Thai Minister Sibunruang expressed admiration of China’s achievements in STI for economic and social development and expressed the wish to align with specific science, technology and innovation cooperation initiatives put forward by China in connection with the Belt and Road Initiative and further strengthen bilateral pragmatic STI cooperation, which drives economic development for the benefit of the two peoples.

The meeting was also attended by Cai Jianing, Deputy Director General of the Department of International Cooperation, Liang Yingda, Deputy Inspector of the General Office, and Li Guoping, Director General of the Department of System Engineering of China National Space Administration.

During the visit, Sibunruang attended the relevant meetings and activities of the Belt and Road Forum for International Cooperation and attended the parallel session on People-to-people Connectivity with Wang on May 14.