Organized the 9th China–Southeast Asian Countries Marine Cooperation Forum

During 24–25 September 2026, the Ministry of Natural Resources and Environment (MNRE), through the Department of Marine and Coastal Resources (DMCR), in collaboration with the Ministry of Natural Resources of the People’s Republic of China, organized a series of meetings on marine science and technology and regional cooperation, including the 9th China–Southeast Asian Countries Marine Cooperation Forum. 

Mr. Suchart Chomklin, Minister of Natural Resources and Environment, assigned Ms. Darika Saranket, Advisor to the Minister of Natural Resources and Environment, to preside over the opening ceremony together with Dr. Sun Shuxian, Vice Minister of Natural Resources of the People’s Republic of China, and Dr. Pinsak Suraswadi, Director-General of DMCR. The event brought together more than 200 representatives and researchers from China and Southeast Asian countries at The Bazaar Hotel Bangkok, Thailand.

The event built upon the long-standing Thailand–China cooperation in marine science and technology, extending bilateral collaboration toward broader regional cooperation. Participants exchanged scientific knowledge, research findings, and experiences in ocean monitoring and observation, climate change, coastal zone management, ecosystem and biodiversity conservation, marine pollution management, and sustainable blue economy development.

The event comprised the 15th Thailand–China Joint Workshop on Marine Science and Technology Collaboration (JW-15), the 14th Steering Committee Meeting of the Thailand–China Joint Laboratory for Climate and Marine Ecosystem (SCM-14), and the 9th China–Southeast Asian Countries Marine Cooperation Forum. These meetings provided platforms for exchanging knowledge and identifying future directions for regional cooperation in marine and coastal resources.

DMCR places strong emphasis on strengthening international cooperation in marine science and technology, particularly through the advancement of marine monitoring and observation systems, the development of scientific technologies and instruments, the exchange of scientific knowledge, and capacity building for researchers. These efforts contribute to the conservation and sustainable use of marine and coastal resources.