Sino-Thai tie-ups urged in AI-life sciences

The convergence of artificial intelligence (AI) and life sciences is opening new possibilities in drug development, disease diagnosis, precision medicine and the modernization of traditional medicine, scientists from China and Thailand said at a forum in Bangkok, calling for deeper cross-border cooperation to turn scientific advances into practical benefits.

The comments came at the 2026 Tengchong Scientists Forum (TSF) Bangkok Conference, which took place from Sept 20-22. Supported by the Yunnan provincial government and the China Association for Science and Technology, as well as several leading universities, TSF was initiated by leading Chinese scientists as an open platform for scientific exchange, innovation and cooperation.

The conference brought together scientists, industry leaders and policymakers from China, Thailand and beyond to explore the integration of AI and life sciences. It marked the forum's first gathering outside China since its establishment in 2022.

Bai Chunli, member of the Chinese Academy of Sciences and former president of the Chinese Academy of Sciences, said "global scientific and technological innovation is entering a new stage of deep integration and open collaboration".

AI, big data, life sciences and medical and health sciences are increasingly intersecting, changing both the way scientific research is conducted and the path of industrial development, he said.

"Science is a language that transcends borders," Bai highlighted, stressing that scientists, entrepreneurs and policymakers need to work together on shared challenges including global public health, population health and sustainable development.

Xu Zhihong, co-chair of the TSF and member of the Chinese Academy of Sciences, said the rapid integration of AI with medical diagnosis and brain-computer interfaces, as well as advances in large-scale bio-pharmaceutical development and intelligent breeding, are creating fresh opportunities for scientific and social development.

"The decision to hold the first overseas TSF event in Bangkok reflected Thailand's strengths in life sciences and the close scientific ties between China, Thailand and ASEAN," Xu said.

He called on the two countries to explore long-term mechanisms, including joint laboratories, technology transfer and exchange programs for young scientists, while improving the flow of talent, technology and capital across the region.

Yodchanan Wongsawa, Thailand's deputy prime minister and head of the Ministry of Higher Education, Science, Research and Innovation, said AI is creating new opportunities for scientific discovery, drug development, precision medicine and traditional medicine, but realizing those opportunities would require cooperation across disciplines, institutions and borders.

"China is a global leader in science, technology and innovation, while Thailand attaches great importance to cooperation with China," he said, adding that cooperation between the two sides "can strengthen research capacity and help move scientific breakthroughs into practical applications, with benefits extending beyond the two countries to ASEAN through joint research, researcher exchanges and technology transfer".

The foundation for scientific cooperation between Thailand and China is already substantial. Established in 2017, the Chinese Academy of Sciences Bangkok Innovation Center has facilitated more than 70 international technology cooperation projects, helping build an innovation community between China and Thailand.

In July, Thai Prime Minister Anutin Charnvirakul paid an official visit to China and attended the World Artificial Intelligence Conference in Shanghai. The two countries issued a joint statement emphasizing stronger international cooperation and global governance in AI.

For Wu Zhiwu, charge d'affaires ad interim of the Chinese embassy in Thailand, closer cooperation is particularly important as AI and life sciences advance alongside common challenges such as regulatory gaps.

China and Thailand share a commitment to openness and inclusiveness and seek to use "AI plus" to empower industries and improve people's well-being, he said, proposing closer strategic coordination, expanded "AI plus" cooperation and joint talent development.

Pennapa Kanchana, inspector general of the MHESI urged focus on practical cooperation by connecting scientific research, industrial demand, capital and application scenarios, while building a more stable and institutionalized regional network for scientific exchange.

"As AI increasingly becomes a common technological language, the Bangkok conference is positioning scientific cooperation not only as an exchange of ideas, but also as a potential bridge linking research, industry and talent across China, Thailand and the wider ASEAN region," she said.