China-Thailand Marine and Polar Cooperation Month Successfully Concluded

The year 2025 marks the 50th anniversary of the establishment of diplomatic relations between China and Thailand and the "Golden Jubilee of Thailand-China Friendship." Over the past half-century, bilateral relations have maintained healthy and stable development. This relationship has become a model of harmonious coexistence and common development between nations. In December 2011, the two sides signed the Memorandum of Understanding between the State Oceanic Administration of the People's Republic of China and the Ministry of Natural Resources and Environment of the Kingdom of Thailand on Marine Cooperation, marking a new phase in China-Thailand marine cooperation. On the occasion of the 50th anniversary of diplomatic relations, and with the approval of the foreign ministries of both countries, the Ministry of Natural Resources (MNR) of China and the Ministry of Natural Resources and Environment (MNRE) of Thailand jointly launched the "China-Thailand Marine and Polar Cooperation Month" series of activities earlier this year. These activities were organized and implemented through the platform of the China-Thailand Joint Laboratory for Climate and Marine Ecosystems, operated by FIO. Eleven highly visible and substantive celebratory events were held, including the Open Day of the research vessel "Xiangyanghong 01", an Exhibition on Achievements of China-Thailand Marine Cooperation, and the Launch Ceremony of the China-Thailand Nature Education Center.

To summarize the outcomes of the "China-Thailand Marine and Polar Cooperation Month", MNR and MNRE jointly held the closing ceremony and a workshop in Qingdao on December 24th. More than 40 guests from the natural resources, marine, and environmental sectors of both countries attended the event. WANG Antao, Deputy Director-General of the Department of International Cooperation of MNR, and Pinsak Suraswadi, Director-General of the Department of Marine and Coastal Resources of MNRE, delivered speeches on behalf of China and Thailand, respectively. Participants reviewed and summarized the 11 joint activities held from February to November 2025. During the event, the Collection of 100 Excellent Papers on China-Thailand Marine Cooperation was released, comprehensive ocean monitoring stations in Phuket and Rayong, Thailand, were inaugurated, and the upgrade ceremony for Thailand's ocean forecasting system was held. During the workshop, China and Thailand identified three areas as priorities for future cooperation: the construction of a high-resolution marine forecasting system, cooperation on marine spatial planning, and marine ecological collaboration under the framework of the Agreement under the United Nations Convention on the Law of the Sea on the Conservation and Sustainable Use of Marine Biological Diversity of Areas beyond National Jurisdiction (BBNJ Agreement) . Both sides reached a high degree of consensus on the cooperation plans and implementation measures.

The successful hosting of the "China-Thailand Marine and Polar Cooperation Month" series of activities is a vivid demonstration of a new model of marine cooperation driven by bilateral needs, supported by robust technology, and aimed at regional leadership. It not only reflects the high level of consensus between the two sides in understanding, protecting, and utilizing the ocean but also represents a pragmatic action by China and Thailand to jointly participate in global governance and address marine challenges.

Deputy Director-General WANG Antao of the Department of International Cooperation, Ministry of Natural Resources of China, delivering a speech

Director-General Pinsak Suraswadi of the Department of Marine and Coastal Resources, Ministry of Natural Resources and Environment of Thailand, delivering a speech

Release ceremony for the "Collection of 100 Excellent Papers on China-Thailand Marine Cooperation"

Launch ceremony for the comprehensive ocean monitoring stations in Phuket and Rayong, Thailand

Upgrade ceremony for Thailand Ocean Forecasting System