Royal Visit to the People’s Republic of China
Royal Visit to the People’s Republic of China
by Professor Dr. Her Royal Highness Princess Chulabhorn Mahidol
from May 6-18, 2024
Professor Dr. Her Royal Highness Princess Chulabhorn Mahidol, President of the Chulabhorn Research Institute, has long recognized the importance of academic and research collaborations with the world’s leading institutes in the fields of medical science and technology to enhance knowledge and research and development in medicine, aiming to elevate the country’s medical standards to international level.
In May, the President of the Chulabhorn Research Institute paid a royal visit to the People’s Republic of China to continue academic cooperation, exchange of knowledge and development of advanced research in medical science and technology, as well as promotion of long-standing relationship in arts and culture, at the formal invitation of the Embassy of the People’s Republic of China in Bangkok.
On this occasion, Her Royal Highness graciously granted the opportunity for Mr. Sun Yeli, Minister of Culture and Tourism, People’s Republic of China, to present the details of the cooperation on the occasion of the 50th anniversary of diplomatic ties between Thailand and the People’s Republic of China in 2025.
During this royal visit to China, numerous leading public and private institutes expressed their readiness to support and cooperate in every possible way to fulfill Her Royal Highness’s aspirations to care for and promote people’s health.
Institute of Microbiology
The visit to the Institute of Microbiology, the first mission of this trip, aimed to seek academic cooperation with the People’s Republic of China, known for its outstanding and successful research such as the development of various vaccines and biologics for the efficient protection and treatment of the COVID-19. The vaccines produced from multiple viral proteins help boost immunity, aligning with the study and research direction of the Chulabhorn Research Institute under the leadership of its President. The Chulabhorn Research Institute is equipped with the necessary infrastructure for this purpose, with its Center for Biologics Research and Development (CBRD) internationally recognized for its standard production of biologics. The Institute also places great importance to personnel development, particularly researchers who are crucial for drug discoveries and development, contributing to the country’s drug security.
The Institute of Microbiology is an agency under the Chinese Academy of Sciences which is the country’s largest research institute. It undertakes studies of microbiology and immunity system, starting from basic research to application for product development, with focus on the research in microbes such as bacteria, fungi, and viruses, in terms of pathogens and utilization. Successful R&D at the Institute can be expanded to industrial-scale production and perform technology transfer to the country’s overall industrial and economic sectors.
National Medical Products Administration (NMPA)
The National Medical Products Administration supervises chemical drug products, vaccines, bio-based products, and traditional Chinese medicine, promoting high-quality medicine to gain market access, determining and developing quality of standards for analytical methods of health products, using Big Data to control the efficiency and safety of medicines for the people, as well as cooperating with international organizations or agencies responsible for the supervision of medical products.
The royal visit to the NMPA is expected to greatly benefit both the Chulabhorn Research Institute and the Chulabhorn Graduate Institute, and other royally-initiated agencies, enhancing their potential and understanding of the processes and methods for the development and registration of medical products, as well as finding ways and means to cooperate with government agencies that supervise medical products in order to promote quality medical supplies and their accessibility to the public, and to further strengthen cooperation at the international level.
The vision of Her Royal Highness highlights the campaign for the good health of Thai people and their pets, as well as stray animals, by supporting them to have access to efficient and standard medical and public health services under the One Health Concept, whereby humans and animals could safely coexist. The concern for animal health is considered to be a study of the approach of the prevention and care of human health as well.
Therefore, it is necessary to expedite the systematic control of the stray dog and cat populations, especially with sufficient quality veterinary vaccines and supplies, to control and prevent relevant diseases. This would not only ensure drug security for Thailand but will also enable the country to eradicate rabies by 2030, fulfilling the commitment of HRH Princess Chulabhorn’s project on
“Disease-free Animals, Safe Humans from Rabies”.
Qingdao
YEBIO BIOENGINEERING CO., LTD. OF QINGDAO
Her Royal Highness led a team of veterinarians from Kasetsart University to visit Yebio Bioengineering Co., Ltd. of Qingdao, the largest producer of veterinary drugs, vaccines, and supplies in the People’s Republic of China. The objectives were to study the process and the use of technology to produce veterinary vaccines and supplies, and to explore possible cooperation with the People’s Republic of China on innovation transfer for the production of veterinary vaccines in Thailand, including ways and means that would enable Thailand to manage sufficient veterinary vaccines and supplies to effectively control and eradicate rabies as well as other animal diseases, benefiting both humans and animals for their safe coexistence.
Shanghai
Wuxi Biologics
Her Royal Highness visited Wuxi Biologics, a leading international company with great potential in the R&D and production of comprehensive biologics with advanced equipment and technology to support the R&D in biologics for rapid market access. The company has expertise in drug registration standards worldwide, based on its experience and cooperation with multinational pharmaceutical companies.
Considering the company’s policy and direction, Her Royal Highness took interest in the company’s capability to support and enhance the potential of the CRI’s Center for Biologics Research and Development (CBRD), already equipped with basic infrastructure, technology, and personnel with expertise in biologics R&D.
Shanghai Institute of Materia Medica
Her Royal Highness paid an academic visit to the Shanghai Institute of Materia Medica, the world’s leading academic and drug research institute under the Chinese Academy of Sciences. This was Her third visit to the institute to enhance cooperation following the signing of the Agreement on the Cooperation in the Study of Science and Technology in Her capacity as the President of the Chulabhorn Research Institute which was Her first visit in 2003. Later, in 2014, Her Royal Highness graciously gave a lecture on research in natural substances, providing great inspiration to the lecturers and researchers at the Shanghai Institute of Materia Medica who were immensely grateful to Her Royal Highness.
During the royal visit to seek cooperation with leading companies and institutes in the field of drug development, Her Royal Highness led teams of researchers from the Chulabhorn Research Institute and lecturers from the Chulabhorn Graduate Institute to study and exchange knowledge on various processes and operations to enhance the potential and knowledge of Thai researchers in their efforts to drive research towards success, fulfilling the dedication of Her Royal Highness to the issue of drug security through the application of science and technology.
The achievements of the royal visit to the People’s Republic of China mark another successful step towards accomplishing the commitment of Her Royal Highness to seek cooperation and exchange of knowledge and personnel in science and technology, particularly in the production and development of vaccines for disease prevention and control for humans and animals. This visit also extended to the creativity in arts and culture to strengthen international cooperation.
These achievements affirm the strong commitment of Her Royal Highness to ensuring drug security for the good health of the Thai people and strengthening the excellent friendship and understanding between Thailand and China, which has lasted for more than 49 years.
Public Relations Section, Office of the President
June 20, 2024
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