Recently, the Rajamangala University of Technology Tawan-ok Branch of the China-ASEAN Innovation and Cooperation Center for AI in Transportation, led and operated by Guangxi Transport Vocational and Technical College (GTVTC), was officially unveiled. This is the Center's third overseas branch in ASEAN, following those in Vietnam and Malaysia. It marks a new stage of systematic operation and high-quality development for the China-ASEAN cross-regional cooperation system for artificial intelligence (AI) in transportation, further enhancing its capacity to support the digital and intelligent transformation and upgrading of the regional transportation industry.

Strategic Site Selection: Deepening Cooperation to Solidify the Foundation for Implementation

The China-ASEAN Innovation and Cooperation Center for AI in Transportation is a key provincial-level platform established in September 2025 with the approval of the Department of Transport of Guangxi Zhuang Autonomous Region and is led and operated by GTVTC. As a governing member of the Center, Rajamangala University of Technology Tawan-ok has long been engaged in China-Thailand exchanges and cooperation in the field of AI in transportation and has maintained close coordination with GTVTC.

In December 2025, the "China-Thailand Digital Twin Smart Port: Integrated Demonstration Project for Intelligent Waterways and Structural Safety at Songkhla Oil Terminal," jointly developed by the two institutions, won the ASEAN Cooperation Special Award at the AI Capacity-Building Action for All Cup—Transportation Innovation Competition. This achievement has become a model outcome of cooperation between the two sides in AI in transportation and has laid a solid technical and cooperative foundation for the establishment of the Thailand branch.

The cooperation project between the two institutions won the ASEAN Cooperation Special Award

Official Unveiling: Synergizing Efforts to Open a New Chapter of Cooperation

Rajamangala University of Technology Tawan-ok has set up a dedicated office and formed a project team at its Uthenthawai Campus in downtown Bangkok. Leveraging the platform advantages of the Thailand branch, the project team will further integrate high-quality resources from China and Thailand in AI in transportation, focusing on innovative applications of digital twin technology in scenarios such as smart waterways and intelligent ports. Furthermore, through regular technical seminars, joint applications for international research projects, and other initiatives, the Center will continue to expand the influence of the cooperation, promote the coordinated development of AI technologies in transportation between China and Thailand, contribute more expertise and strength to the intelligent transformation of the regional transportation industry, and build the branch into a benchmark platform for China-Thailand digital and intelligent transportation cooperation.

Unveiling of the Rajamangala University of Technology Tawan-ok Branch of the China-ASEAN Innovation and Cooperation Center for AI in Transportation (The picture shows the future office of the branch)

Discussion and Exchange: Expanding Cooperation Through Multi-party Collaboration

To effectively advance the development of the branch, GTVTC held discussion and exchange sessions with key local Thai institutions and enterprises, including Rajamangala University of Technology Tawan-ok, the Thai-Sino Association of Sciences and Technology, the Thai-Guangxi Commercial Association, and Beidou Fuxi Information Technology Co., Ltd. All parties exchanged views on jointly promoting achievement commercialization, talent development, skills training, and research projects in the field of AI in transportation. They reached a broad consensus on exploring the establishment of a long-term and stable cooperation mechanism and promoting complementary strengths and common development, laying a solid foundation for the steady development of the branch in Thailand.

Qiu Shi, Secretary-General of the Center, introduced the branch

Exchange meeting with the Thai-Sino Association of Sciences and Technology and other organizations

Looking ahead, the Center will continue to accelerate the development of branches in Indonesia, Cambodia, Singapore, and other countries, build an integrated cooperation network featuring China-foreign coordination, localized engagement, and mutually beneficial linkage, and develop a six-in-one cooperation system covering scientific and technological R&D, skills competitions, technical exchanges, project cooperation, talent development, and achievement showcase. It will continue to improve the China-ASEAN digital and intelligent transportation cooperation ecosystem and contribute actively to building a closer China-ASEAN community with a shared future through the wisdom of vocational education in transportation and the strength of digital and intelligent technologies.