Department of Marine and Coastal Resources Strengthens Thailand-China Relations through Joint Committee Meeting to Exchange Views and Promote Future Cooperation

On May 21, 2025, the Department of Marine and Coastal Resources (DMCR), under the Ministry of Natural Resources and Environment (MNRE) of Thailand, hosted the 8th Meeting of the Joint Committee on Marine Cooperation between Thailand and China, along with related activities. The purpose was to monitor the progress of ongoing projects, exchange views, and promote future cooperation. The meeting was co-chaired by Mr. Sun Shuxian, Vice Minister of the Ministry of Natural Resources of the People's Republic of China, and Mrs. Ornucha Lorpensri, Deputy Permanent Secretary of the MNRE, Thailand.

On this occasion, Dr. Pinsak Suraswadi, Director-General of the DMCR, and Mr. Chen Danhong, Director-General of the Department of International Cooperation of the People's Republic of China, also served as co-chairs. In attendance were Mr. Ukkrit Satapumin, Deputy Director-General of the DMCR; Mr. Suwapak Imsamut, Deputy Director-General of the Department of Mineral Resources; Mrs. Sumana Khajorwattanakul, Director of the Marine and Coastal Resources Research and Development Institute; along with executives, experts, and officials from both countries. The meeting was held on the 13th floor conference room of the Pattaya Discovery Beach Hotel, Pattaya City, Chonburi Province.

This meeting took place from May 19–22, 2025, with Thailand as the host country. The objective was to continue implementation under the Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) on Marine Cooperation between the Ministry of Natural Resources of the People's Republic of China and the MNRE of Thailand. This year’s meeting held special significance as it marked the 50th anniversary of diplomatic relations between Thailand and China, symbolizing a strong and enduring friendship and cooperation—particularly in the area of marine and coastal resource management.

The meeting agenda included presentations on the outcomes of nine joint research projects, progress reports on activities celebrating the 50th anniversary of diplomatic ties, and the proposal of a project on Marine debris and microplastic. The committee approved this project as a standalone initiative under the Thailand-China marine cooperation framework.

Furthermore, the joint committee proposed coordinators for the Thailand-China cooperation for the next phase (2026–2028), and discussed arrangements for the 9th Joint Committee Meeting (JCM-9), which will be hosted by the Ministry of Natural Resources of the People's Republic of China. Both sides also proposed names for the drafters of the minutes of JCM-8, which will be finalized and signed through formal correspondence.