KKU strengthens Sino-Thai Collaboration on Poverty Alleviation Management for Sustainable Development Goals

16 June 2026
10:15

Khon Kaen University joins forces with Chinese and local partners to exchange knowledge and advance rural revitalisation in north-eastern Thailand.

Khon Kaen University (KKU), in collaboration with the Consulate-General of the People’s Republic of China in Khon Kaen, Baise Executive Career College from Guangxi Province, the Khon Kaen Provincial Office, and network partners, co-hosted the “China–Thailand Joint Promotion Meeting on Poverty Alleviation Management Collaboration”. The forum aimed to promote the exchange of knowledge, strategies, and practical experience in poverty alleviation management between Thailand and China, while also advancing rural revitalisation and improving quality of life across north-eastern Thailand.

The meeting took place on 12 June 2026 at the Peerasit Kamnuansilpa Meeting Room, College of Local Administration, KKU. Associate Professor Dr Charnchai Panthongviriyakul, President of Khon Kaen University, delivered the welcoming address. The seminar brought together more than 150 senior executives, administrators, and representatives from the public sector, academic institutions, the private sector, and related agencies. Key insights on bilateral cooperation were presented by Ms Liu Hongmei, Consul-General of the People’s Republic of China in Khon Kaen; Mr Chaiwat Chuenkosum, Deputy Permanent Secretary of the Ministry of Interior; Mr Kajornkiet Rakpanichmanee, Governor of Khon Kaen Province; and Mr Gao Yisong, Vice President of the Baise Leadership Administration Development Institute of Guangxi.

Ms. Liu Hongmei highlighted the historic success of China’s domestic policies, noting that since the introduction of economic reform and the opening-up policy in 1978, the People’s Republic of China has lifted more than 800 million citizens out of poverty. She said that the core of poverty reduction lies in targeted, precise management — specifically through specialised agriculture, rural tourism, and e-commerce platforms as means of generating sustainable local income. The Consulate-General has also partnered with networks in north-eastern Thailand to deploy specialists for knowledge-sharing and vocational support for vulnerable groups, including people with disabilities and those from low-income backgrounds, while building international partnerships to reduce social inequality.

Associate Professor Charnchai Panthongviriyakul, M.D., reaffirmed the role of higher education institutions in advancing sustainable development through the integration of academic knowledge, research, and community engagement. He noted that KKU gives considerable weight to Environmental, Social, and Governance (ESG) principles as a basis for positive societal impact. This commitment has brought KKU international recognition, securing the top ranking in Thailand for Sustainable Development Goal 1 (SDG 1: No Poverty) in the Times Higher Education Impact Rankings for three consecutive years, from 2022 to 2024. The President expressed KKU’s readiness to expand academic and practical collaborations with domestic and international partners to promote long-term social equity.

Mr. Chaiwat Chuenkosum observed that poverty alleviation cannot be achieved by any single agency in isolation but demands a systematic, continuous, multi-sectoral approach. He remarked that poverty is neither part of human DNA nor an inescapable destiny. The Ministry of Interior continues to uphold its core mission to “alleviate suffering and foster happiness” by strengthening local operational mechanisms alongside public, private, academic, and civil sectors to establish workable development models.

Mr. Kajornkiet Rakpanichmanee noted that the meeting offered Khon Kaen Province and north-eastern Thailand an opportunity to study and adapt the development experience of the Guangxi Zhuang Autonomous Region to the local context, thereby stimulating provincial economic growth and creating new economic opportunities for residents.

Mr. Gao Yisong argued that the decisive factor in overcoming poverty is human resource development and collective awareness. He shared lessons from Baise City in the Guangxi Zhuang Autonomous Region, which successfully transformed a remote area into a centre for agricultural production and community-based innovation. He added that the institute intends to establish closer academic and research cooperation with KKU to transfer management approaches and innovative frameworks suited to the Thai social landscape.

This collaborative seminar reflects a shared vision between the governments, academic bodies, and international organisations of both nations. By drawing on China’s poverty alleviation experience to develop practical applications for north-eastern Thailand, the partnership responds to ongoing economic challenges, laying a foundation for future research, personnel training, and community innovation to help bridge social inequality.