Thailand's Minister of Higher Education, Science, Research, and Innovation Supamas Isarabhakdi led a comprehensive delegation to the 9th Digital Belt and Road Conference (DBAR 2025) held in Chengdu, China from 9-11 June 2025.

The Thai delegation included key officials from various agencies:

*Dr. Wiparat Dee-ong, Director of the National Research Council of Thailand

*Dr. Pakorn Apaphant, Director of Geo-Informatics and Space Technology Development Agency

*Assoc. Prof. Dr. Weerachai Artjan, Governor of Thailand Institute of Scientific and Technological Research

*Dr. Nirawat Thammachak, Director of Human Resource Development and Institutional Development Fund Management Unit

*Dr. Monthip Sriratana, Director of DBAR International Center of Excellence Bangkok

The 2025 conference marks a double celebration - the 10th anniversary of the DBAR project and the 50th anniversary of Thai-China diplomatic relations. Minister Supamas delivered an opening address alongside distinguished international speakers including Prof. Zhumaliev Kubanychbek from Kyrgyzstan's National Academy of Sciences, Prof. Nana Sarfo Agyemang Derkyi from Ghana's University of Energy and Natural Resources, and Professor XU Qiang from China's Chengdu University of Technology.

Since 2018, Thailand has been actively involved in DBAR through the establishment of the DBAR International Center of Excellence Bangkok, operated by the National Research Council of Thailand. The center collaborates with domestic partners including the geo-Informatics and Space Technology Development Agency, the Asian Institute of Technology, Ramkhamhaeng University.

Thai-Chinese collaboration focuses on big earth data applications using satellite remote sensing technology for environmental quality protection, water resource risk management, coastal resource management, and supporting UN Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs)

Prof. Guo Huadong, DBAR Chair and Director General of the International Research Center of Big Data for Sustainable Development Goals presented Minister Supamas with a model of the SDGSAT-1 satellite. This satellite, launched by China from the Taiyuan Space Center in northern Shanxi Province, carries multispectral cameras to collect data analyzing human-environment interactions and supporting SDG indicator assessments.

The event featured equipment presentations to nine DBAR centers worldwide, including the Bangkok center, along with exhibitions commemorating the 10th anniversary of DBAR and showcasing SDGSAT-1 satellite imagery capabilities.

The conference, themed "Sustainable Transformation through Digital Science," emphasized the need for global cooperation and strategic vision to drive sustainable progress toward SDGs, improve decision-making systems, and strengthen evidence-based policies. As the 2030 sustainable development agenda enters a critical phase, DBAR serves as a vital platform for international scientific cooperation along the Belt and Road Initiative, promoting sustainable development through big data applications and calling for shared experiences, strategies, solutions, and mechanisms to ensure long-term global progress.