On November 11th, the "2024 Yellow River - Mekong River Exchange Week" opened in Dezhou. Song Junji, the vice governor of the province, Shi Zhongjun, the secretary-general of the ASEAN-China Centre, and other guests attended and delivered speeches.
At the opening ceremony, the Thailand Language and Culture Exchange Center of Dezhou University was established. Tian Weidong, the secretary of the Dezhou Municipal Party Committee, Jin Qingqing, the deputy consul and acting consul general of the Royal Thai Consulate General in Qingdao, Li Yongsen, the deputy director and first-class inspector of the Foreign Affairs Office of the Provincial Party Committee, and Wu Jun, the Chairman of the School Affairs Committee of our university, jointly unveiled the plaque for the "Thailand Language and Culture Exchange Center of Dezhou University".
Liu Yinfang, vice president of the university, Maria Mayi Fabros, third secretary and vice consul of the Philippine Embassy in China, Professor Wu Jiewei, vice dean of the School of Foreign Languages at Peking University, Professor Maria Victoria Raquiza of the University of the Philippines, and Professor Melvin A. Bagot of the Mariano Marcos State University jointly launched the "Approaching Qilu Culture and Feeling Rural Revitalization" China-Philippines Youth Friendship Exchange Week event.
In the afternoon, the academic seminar on "Cross-regional Collaboration and Sustainability: Synergistic Development of the Yellow River and Mekong River Basins" was held in our university. Guided and supported by the Foreign Affairs Office of the Shandong Provincial People's Government and the Foreign Affairs Office of the Dezhou Municipal People's Government, and hosted by Dezhou University, this seminar aimed to strengthen the academic community's discussion and research on the synergistic development model of the Yellow River and Mekong River basins. Through interdisciplinary and cross-field cooperation, it intended to provide innovative ideas and solutions for the sustainable development of the Yellow River and Mekong River basins and promote the construction of the "China-ASEAN Community with a Shared Future" to a higher level. Zhao Changlin, president of the university, and Ma Jun, a second-class inspector of the Foreign Affairs Office of the Shandong Provincial People's Government, respectively delivered speeches. Liu Yinfang, vice president of the university, presided over the seminar.
In his speech, Zhao Changlin introduced the university's international education, foreign exchange and cooperation in recent years, as well as its active efforts in serving the cooperation and exchanges between Shandong and Mekong River Basin countries. He hoped that through in-depth and professional discussions in this academic conference, by gathering the wisdom of ASEAN research experts, it could provide good strategies and intellectual support for Shandong Province and Dezhou City to integrate into the "Innovative Development Strategy for the Greater Mekong Sub-region Economic Cooperation 2030", expand practical cooperation with Mekong River Basin countries in areas such as economy and trade, agriculture, connectivity, digital economy, green development, medical and health care, tourism, and humanities, produce a batch of landmark think tank research results, and offer more guidance and support for the construction and development of the ASEAN Research Center of Dezhou University.
Ma Jun pointed out that Shandong has a solid foundation, huge potential and broad prospects for exchanges with countries in the Mekong River Basin. The theme of the academic seminar conforms to the current era situation and the needs of opening up to the outside world. It is conducive to giving play to the role of foreign affairs think tanks and has strong practical significance. Shandong Province is willing to be at the forefront with Mekong River countries, build a high-quality demonstration area for jointly building the "Belt and Road Initiative", and actively promote the establishment of contacts and in-depth cooperation between universities and think tanks in Shandong and relevant well-known universities and think tanks in the Mekong River Basin.
More than 50 experts, scholars and researchers discussed and exchanged ideas around the challenges and opportunities for the synergistic development of the Yellow River and Mekong River basins. Professor Guo Yanjun, dean of the School of National Security and director of the Asia Institute at China Foreign Affairs University; Professor Zhao Shulan, director of the Laos Institute at the China (Kunming) Institute of South and Southeast Asian Studies of Yunnan Academy of Social Sciences; Professor Wu Jiewei, a professor at the Center for Oriental Literatures of Peking University and vice dean of the School of Foreign Languages; Professor Fang Hui, dean of the School of International Economics and Trade at Shandong University of Finance and Economics and director of the "Belt and Road" Economic Development Research Center; Professor Fan Lei, dean of the Institute of Public Diplomacy (Shandong Provincial Foreign Affairs Research and Development Think Tank) at Shandong Youth University of Political Science; and Professor Zhang Guoqiang from the School of Foreign Languages at Dezhou University respectively gave special presentations.
During this period, Jin Qingqing and her delegation visited our university. Zhao Changlin met with them and held a discussion and exchange in the ASEAN Research Center. Zhao Changlin said that next year will mark the 50th anniversary of the establishment of diplomatic relations between China and Thailand. He hoped that, taking the establishment of the Thailand Language and Culture Exchange Center of Dezhou University as an opportunity, new ways of cooperation with Thai universities and scientific research institutions would be continuously explored to promote both sides to achieve new and greater achievements in fields such as talent cultivation, scientific research, cultural exchange, internship and practice, and to facilitate more active and effective exchanges and cooperation between Shandong Province, Dezhou City and friendly provinces and states in Thailand.
Before the meeting, Jin Qingqing and her delegation visited the teaching and office areas of the "Thailand Language and Culture Exchange Center of Dezhou University". They observed the Chinese teaching situation for international students in the School of International Education and had friendly exchanges with Thai international students.
