The government is pushing to elevate Thailand’s capabilities as a future technology leader. The Cabinet has approved five draft cooperation documents between Thailand and China, scheduled for signing during the Prime Minister’s visit to China on 20 July 2026, to enhance the country’s competitive edge.
On 14 July 2026, Second Lieutenant Patdarasmi Thongsaluaykorn, Deputy Spokesperson of the Prime Minister's Office, announced that the Cabinet approved five draft agreements to promote cooperation in higher education, science, research, and innovation between Thailand and the People's Republic of China. These agreements are planned for signing during the Prime Minister’s official visit to China on 20 July 2026. This marks a continuation of the strategic partnership between the two countries to develop education, human resources, research, and advanced technology to boost Thailand’s future competitiveness. The five cooperation documents include:
1. A draft agreement on cooperation in higher education to promote exchanges of students, faculty, researchers, scholarship allocations, and knowledge sharing between higher education institutions in both countries.
2. A draft memorandum of understanding on cooperation in the application of the BeiDou satellite navigation system for joint research, development, and technology application.
3. A draft memorandum of understanding to promote exchange and cooperation in nuclear fusion to develop knowledge, technology, and personnel in future energy.
4. A draft joint research project agreement between Thailand’s Ministry of Higher Education, Science, Research and Innovation and the Chinese Academy of Sciences, covering key fields such as agriculture, materials science, artificial intelligence, biotechnology, nanotechnology, and space technology.
5. A draft memorandum of understanding on establishing a Thailand-China joint laboratory for deep space exploration, supporting joint research and development of space technology.
The Deputy Government Spokesperson said these five cooperation documents will enhance the quality of Thailand’s higher education and research, increase opportunities for human resource development, and promote knowledge exchange among students, researchers, and institutions in both countries. They will also extend cooperation in strategic technology fields such as artificial intelligence, space technology, satellite navigation, materials science, and nuclear fusion. These form a vital foundation for developing future industries, increasing the country’s scientific, research, and innovation capacity, and propelling Thailand to become a regional hub for higher education, science, research, and innovation.