On the afternoon of September 8, a symposium was held at Conference 112 of the Teaching Building 14, discussing the joint establishment of the Confucius Institute by Chengdu University (CDU) and Phranakhon Si Ayutthaya Rajabhat University (ARU). Peng Xiaolin, Vice President of CDU, presided over the symposium, and Kanit Kheovichai, President of the Board of Trustees of ARU and Chusit Pradabpet, Principal of ARU attended the symposium. The two sides engaged in a comprehensive discussion on matters pertaining to the joint establishment of the Confucius Institute.

Vice President Peng introduced CDU's internationalization strategy, and emphasized that CDU and ARU share a lot of similarities and both regard international cooperation as a crucial strategy for their development. She mentioned that Chengdu is among the first famous historical and cultural cities in China, and has also been designated as a famous historical and cultural city in East Asia. It is renowned for Mount Qingcheng and the Dujiangyan Irrigation System, a UNESCO World Cultural Heritage site. Phra Nakhon Si Ayutthaya was recognized into the list of UNESCO World Heritage Sites in 1991. The Confucius Institute jointly established by the two universities from Chengdu and Phra Nakhon Si Ayutthaya, both of which house world historical and cultural heritages, is expected to significantly facilitate language learning, people-to-people exchanges, cultural inheritance and innovation, and international communication between the two countries. It will also promote the integration of the inheritance, innovation, and communication of world traditional culture into the diverse realm of global language education.

Kanit Kheovichai extended his gratitude to CDU for their warm reception again. He also expressed his strong willingness to cooperate with CDU, and his active support for the establishment of the Confucius Institute. He emphasized the importance of promoting the exchanges between teachers and students from the two universities using the Confucius Institute as a platform. Chusit Pradabpet is highly optimistic about the future cooperation between ARU and CDU. He indicated that the establishment of the Confucius Institute would enhance language learning, people-to-people exchanges, cultural awareness, and understanding between the two countries as well as the two universities. He also highlighted the potential for broader cooperation in education, culture, tourism, economy and trade on this basis. He expressed his hope that both sides could establish dedicated work teams to further enhance collaboration on the project and expedite its implementation.

Du Jie, Director of the Office of International Cooperation and Exchange of CDU, presented the specific report on application for the establishment of the Confucius Institute. Both sides expressed their clear intentions to collaborate in establishing the institute and provided basic information about their respective institutions on the basis of the application report in Chinese and Thai versions. They also analyzed the demand for Chinese learning in Phra Nakhon Si Ayutthaya and surrounding provinces and discussed in detail the establishment conditions, investment, and relevant support measures for the institute. Additionally, they discussed and reached a consensus on the preliminary blueprint, thematic features, and development vision of the institute.

Furthermore, the strategic adviser for foreign affairs, the special assistant to the Principal, Vice Dean of the College of Humanities and Social Sciences and Head of the Chinese Department of ARU were present at the symposium. Relevant leaders from CDU's Office of International Cooperation and Exchange, College of Literature and Journalism, College of Foreign Languages and Cultures, College of Tourism and Culture Industry, and College of Overseas Education attended the symposium and engaged in fruitful discussions with Thai guests.