9th Workshop of China-Thailand Marine Spatial Planning Collaborative Study Successfully Convened
From December 24 to 25, the 9th Workshop of China-Thailand Marine Spatial Planning Collaborative Study, jointly hosted by FIO and the Department of Marine and Coastal Resources (DMCR) of the Ministry of Natural Resources and Environment (MNRE) of Thailand, was successfully held in Qingdao. Approximately 50 representatives from the ministries of natural resources, research institutions, and universities of both China and Thailand gathered to review cooperative achievements and discuss future pathways for marine spatial planning and sustainable development.
The opening ceremony was presided over by Dr. LI Li, Director of the International Cooperation Department of FIO. WANG Antao, Deputy Director-General of the Department of International Cooperation of the Ministry of Natural Resources (MNR) of China, and Pinsak Suraswadi, Director-General of DMCR, attended and delivered speeches. PAN Xinchun, Secretary-General of the China Oceanic Development Foundation, delivered a video address. The meeting marked a key milestone in the ten-year cooperation between China and Thailand on marine spatial planning. Both sides reviewed the decade-long collaboration in this field, with participating experts and scholars highly commending the fruitful outcomes achieved over the past ten years and expressing strong expectations for deepening cooperation in the future.
Deputy Director-General WANG Antao of the Department of International Cooperation, Ministry of Natural Resources, delivering a speech
Director-General Pinsak Suraswadi of Thailand’s Department of Marine and Coastal Resources delivering a speech
During the meeting, Director-General Pinsak Suraswadi presented the Marine Spatial Planning Cooperation Achievement Award to Dr. ZHANG Zhiwei, Director of the Research Center for Coastal Zone Science and Marine Planning of FIO, in recognition of his team’s outstanding contributions to Thailand in the field of marine spatial resource planning and management. Both sides also signed the "Implementation Agreement on Collaborative Study of Marine Spatial Planning in Phang Nga Bay," marking the entry of China-Thailand marine spatial planning cooperation into a new stage at the bay level.
Director-General of DMCR presenting the Cooperation Achievement Award to Director Zhang Zhiwei
Signing of the new phase cooperation agreement
Throughout the workshop, experts and scholars engaged in in-depth exchanges and discussions on theoretical innovations, technological applications, and practical experiences in marine spatial planning. Topics included the implementation direction of Thailand’s national marine spatial planning, marine ecological restoration practices supported by marine planning, and marine resource conservation and utilization. The meeting also featured a dedicated discussion on the cooperative research on marine spatial planning in Phang Nga Bay in 2026, clarifying priority areas, scope of activities, and specific work plans for future collaboration. Both sides reached a consensus to further integrate their strengths and resources with Phang Nga Bay as a demonstration area, promoting the scientific, refined, and localized development of marine spatial planning. This aims to provide replicable and propagable solutions for regional marine ecological protection and sustainable resource utilization.
The successful convening of this workshop not only reinforced the traditional friendship and cooperative foundation between China and Thailand in the marine field but also outlined a clear blueprint for future maritime cooperation. Upholding the principles of "extensive consultation, joint contribution, and shared benefits," both sides will continue to work together to address marine challenges, safeguard ocean health, and make greater contributions to build a maritime community with a shared future.
Group photo