CIOMP was privileged to host the Executive Director of the National Astronomical Research Institute of Thailand (NARIT), Dr Saran Poshyachinda, and his team on 13–15 December 2018. The visit encompassed a range of activities, from laboratory visits to the signing of cooperative agreements.

On 13 December, Director Zhang Laiming and Deputy Director Wang Hui from CIOMP’s Division of International Cooperation led the delegation through a number of CIOMP’s laboratories.

Xu Wei, Director of Space New Technology Department, introduced his department’s main research achievements to the visitors. Dr Li Zongxuan reported on the fruitful cooperation with the delegation and then led a visit to the laboratories.

Wu Qingwen, Deputy Director of the Space Robot Center, introduced the main research achievements of his department, then led the delegation through his laboratory and introduced the ‘six degrees of freedom’ platform products.

Liu Xinyue, Deputy Director of the Photoelectric Detection Department, received visitors and, together with Dr Yang Fei, introduced some of the achievements related to the large-scale ground-based photoelectric telescope, highlighting the 2.4 m telescope itself.

Next, the delegation visited the Key Laboratory of Advanced Manufacturing Technology of Optical Systems and learned of its latest scientific research achievements and products.

The delegation visited Changguang Chenxin Company and the International Innovation Park, where they learned about Changguang Chenying Biological Science Instruments Co., the Bimberg Chinese-German Green Photonics Research Center, and Professor Guo Chunlei’s China-US Joint Photonics Laboratory.

The delegation was shown a CIOMP-developed small satellite (photo by CIOMP)

On the morning of 14 December, CIOMP President Jia Ping and Deputy President Zhang Xuejun met with the delegation and attended a signing ceremony for a Memorandum of Understanding and a cooperation agreement with NARIT. Professor Jia Ping expressed the hope that the two partners would actively take advantage of China’s Belt and Road Initiative, and continuously expand the scope and strength of their cooperation in many scientific and technological fields. He pointed out that China has always endeavored to cooperate with Thailand. He hoped that with close collaboration, the two countries could maximize mutual benefits, especially in the fields of space optics and ground-based telescopes.

After the signing ceremony, Yang Fei from the Photoelectric Exploration Department reported the activities of his department to the delegation. Dr Li Zongxuan read the content of the MOU, which both parties signed in a friendly atmosphere.

On the afternoon of the 14 December, the delegation visited the State Key Laboratory of Applied Optics. Deputy Director Mu Quanquan introduced the department’s latest scientific research achievements in LCD adaptive optics, and accompanied the delegation to visit the laboratory.

Finally, the delegation visited the Grating Technology Research Center. Deputy Director Zhang Shanwen introduced the latest scientific research progress in the field of large-area grating, including the latest achievements in the field of astronomy.

CIOMP President Jia Ping and Deputy President Zhang Xuejun met with the NARIT delegation (photo by CIOMP)

President Jia Ping and Dr Saran Poshyachinda signed the MOU (photo by CIOMP)

The members of the Thai delegation noted that they were highly impressed by the speed and quality of CIOMP’s innovation capabilities. They expressed their intention to report to Thailand’s Ministry of Science and Technology as soon as possible as a first step in a future substantive collaboration with CIOMP.