From October 19 to 25, 2025, the 23rd Conference on International Exchange of Professionals (CIEP), co-hosted by the Ministry of Human Resources and Social Security (State Administration of Foreign Experts Affairs) and the Shanghai Municipal People’s Government, was successfully held, with Nanchang University (NCU) as a co-organizer. A distinguished delegation of international experts was invited, including Professor Toemsak Srikhirin, Professor Ekkarut Viyanit, and Researcher Wallop Ratanathavorn from the National Science and Technology Development Agency (NSTDA) of Thailand; Professor Kitipong Assatarakul and Professor Thiti Bovornratanaraks from Chulalongkorn University, Thailand; Professor Anuwat Kumpeangkeaw from the Department of Agriculture, Ministry of Agriculture and Cooperatives of Thailand; Associate Professor Tatiya Trongsatitkul from Suranaree University of Technology, Thailand; Associate Professor Teerasak Punvichai from Prince of Songkla University, Thailand; and Professor Huihuang Ding from the Kerry Group. Liu Huan, Vice Dean of the School of Food Science, Huang Xiaojun, Member of the Party Committee of the School of Food Science, Chen Tingting, Vice Dean of the International Food Innovation Institute, and Professor Zhang Bing Deputy Director of the Department of Food Nutrition and Safety, also participated in the conference. Leveraging a “dual-venue linkage model”—featuring high-end discussions at the main venue in Shanghai and pragmatic exchanges at the sub-venue in Nanchang—the conference particularly deepened educational and scientific ties in the food sector between China and Thailand.

From October 19 to 22, at the main venue in Shanghai, the two sides conducted in-depth discussions on international cutting-edge technologies focusing on the high-quality development and innovation of the medicine, materials, and green food sectors, while exploring mechanisms for international collaborative innovation. The foreign experts engaged in a series of activities, including international talent recruitment presentations, high-level academic lectures, cultural experiences, field visits, and international talent matching sessions.

From October 23 to 25, Professor Anuwat Kumpeangkeaw, Associate Professor Tatiya Trongsatitkul, Associate Professor Teerasak Punvichai, and Dr. Yujun Wan, a Research Associate from the University of Cambridge, UK, attended the “2025 International Conference on Industry-University-Research-Application Cooperation (Nanchang)—Forum on High-Quality Development of Biology and Modern Agriculture and Summit of the Jiangxi Provincial Green Food Industry-Education Integration Strategic Alliance” on the sub-venue in Nanchang. In this period, Wang Li, Vice President of NCU, signed an inter-university cooperation agreement on behalf of NCU with Prince of Songkla University, establishing a long-term collaborative platform for joint talent cultivation, collaborative scientific research, and innovation. Following the conference, the experts, joined by Dr. Yujun Wan, visited the International Food Innovation Institute, where they toured state-of-the-art facilities such as the Modern Fermentation Engineering Technology Platform, Analytical and Testing Platform, Innovation R&D Pilot Platform, and Intelligent High-Throughput Screening Platform for Microbial Strains. They gained firsthand insights into cutting-edge technological achievements and industrial applications in food science and technology, expressing high praise for the school’s hardware infrastructure and research capabilities in food science innovation. Additionally, Professor Anuwat Kumpeangkeaw delivered an insightful report on plant protein, while Dr. Yujun Wan shared the latest research findings and practical experience on the structure of animal liver glycogen.

This collaboration, facilitated by the CIEP, has not only enhanced the school’s international influence in international education but also provided intellectual support for regional economic and social development through the dual pathways of “introducing intellectual resources+ cooperation”. Moving forward, we will implement the agreement, expedite the launch of faculty-student exchange programs and joint research initiatives, and strive to cultivate interdisciplinary talents with a global perspective, contributing to national agricultural modernization and the high-quality development of the food industry.