HRH Princess Maha Chakri Sirindhorn of Thailand visited UCAS in the afternoon of 10 April, attending the Ceremony for Renewing the Memorandum of Understanding for the UCAS-Royal Thai Government Scholarship. It was her fourth visit to UCAS. Prof. Deng Yong, Vice Secretary-General of CAS and Chairman of the University Council, met with her.
Prof. Deng welcomed Princess Sirindhorn, noting that she is a long-time friend of UCAS who has supported scientific and educational exchanges between China and Thailand. He explained the reason why UCAS has a new name and gave a brief introduction to its development goals with regard to talent training and related policies. He said that he hoped excellent Thai students might join the “top-notch and innovative talents plan
” of UCAS to improve scientific and educational cooperation between China and Thailand.
Princess Sirindhorn said she was very happy to visit UCAS again and expressed her great appreciation for UCAS’s ambitious goals. She expressed her hope to send more top Thai students to UCAS and reinforce the cooperation between Thailand and UCAS.
Princess Sirindhorn witnessed the Ceremony for Renewing the Memorandum of Understanding for the UCAS-Royal Thai Government Scholarship after meeting with Prof. Deng.
In addition, Princess Sirindhorn met with all Thai students in China who have received the UCAS-Royal Thai Government Scholarship.
His Excellency, Wiboon Khusakul, Thai Ambassador to China, Pairash Thajchayapong, Special and Senior Advisor of the National Science and Technology Development Agency, Thailand and Nontigorn Kanchanachitra, Secretary-General of the Office of the Civil Service Commission, Thailand, were also present.
Princess Sirindhorn is a member of the royal family of Thailand, the third child of HM King Bhumibol and HM Queen Sirikit. She is currently Personal Secretary to King Bhumibol, Director of the Department of History at the Chulachomklao Royal Military Academy and Executive Vice President of the Thai Red Cross Society. As a respected statesman, a talented scholar, and a brilliant poet, Her Royal Highness is a messenger of friendship between Thailand and China.
The Memorandum of Understanding for the UCAS-Royal Thai Government Scholarship was first signed on 3 April, 2008, to support Thai students to study at the Graduate University of Chinese Academy of Sciences (GUCAS, the predecessor of UCAS) by setting up the “UCAS-- Royal Thai Government scholarship”. This is the second renewal of the Memorandum of Understanding, which will take effect from 2015 to 2017. There are a total of 12 Thai students supported by the scholarships and enrolled at UCAS, among which 1 Thai student has graduated.
( Written by Xia Yu)
