From October 18 to 21, a delegation of eight from King Mongkut's University of Technology Thonburi (KMUTT) visited Dalian University of Technology (DUT). During the visit, the two universities jointly held the China–Thailand Marine Energy Academic Forum and Cooperation Symposium, exchanging views in depth on academic research and international collaboration in marine energy.
The cooperation symposium opened with remarks by Zhao Meisen, Director of DUT's Office of Science and Technology, and Wang Jue, Director of DUT's International Office. Faculty leaders and teacher representatives from the School of Infrastructure Engineering, the School of Energy and Power Engineering and the School of Naval Architecture and Ocean Engineering attended the session, which was chaired by Prof. Li Gang, Dean of the School of Infrastructure Engineering.
Zhao outlined DUT's research strengths, platforms and disciplinary layout in marine energy, and expressed the hope that the two universities would work together to overcome bottlenecks in core technologies and steadily raise their academic influence and international competitiveness in the field. Wang noted that DUT and KMUTT have kept up close exchanges in recent years, building sound mutual trust and a stable partnership. She expressed the hope that both sides would continue to deepen cooperation in Southeast Asia and further improve their global partnership network. Chainarong Athisakul, Deputy Head of the Department of Civil Engineering at KMUTT, said the Thai side stands ready to build further consensus with its Chinese partners, explore a long-term mechanism for international collaborative innovation in marine energy, and contribute to the high-quality development of China–Thailand cooperation in science and education.
At the opening ceremony of the academic forum, Li Gang delivered remarks on behalf of DUT. He introduced the development, research platforms and distinctive strengths of DUT's offshore engineering discipline, and looked forward to closer cooperation with the Thai side in marine energy. Chaiwat Ekkawatpanit, Vice Dean of KMUTT's Faculty of Engineering, outlined his faculty's disciplinary structure, research progress and international cooperation.
The academic session that followed was chaired by Prof. Lyu Lin, Vice Dean of the School of Infrastructure Engineering, and drew nearly 50 faculty members and students from the three schools. Presentations covered offshore structural engineering, marine renewable energy development, coastal disaster prevention and mitigation, and low-carbon energy. Scholars from both sides discussed research methods, technical challenges and possible avenues of collaboration.
During their stay, the KMUTT delegation toured the State Key Laboratory of Coastal and Offshore Engineering, the National & Local Joint Engineering Laboratory of Bridge and Tunnel Technology, the Ship Model Towing Tank, the Natural Gas Hydrate Laboratory, the Internal Combustion Engine Laboratory, the Digital Twin Laboratory and the University History Museum.
The visit further strengthened the academic ties and research cooperation between DUT and KMUTT, laying a solid foundation for advancing high-level scientific and technological innovation and talent cultivation in marine energy between China and Thailand.
