On the afternoon of April 4, 2019 (Thursday), Prof. Anek Laothamatas, Chairman of the Department of Public Administration and Dean of the School of Public Administration of Thailand Rangsit University, Prof. Dr.Somboon Suksamran, Chairman of Political Science of the Royal Thai Academy, led a team of more than 40 masters and doctoral students from the School of Public Administration of Rangsit University, to visit and conduct in-depth exchanges in the Qingdao West Coast New Area. Accompanied by Qu Yanyang, Director of Qingdao West Coast New Area Marine Development Bureau, and Zhang Haibo, Deputy Director of Maine Economic Development Center, the delegation visited the Qingdao Film Museum, Qingdao West Coast Planning Exhibition Hall, Qingdao Cosmopolitan Exposition-East Asia Maine Cooperation Platform Permanent Meeting Site and Bright Moon Seaweed Group Museum. The delegation of Rangsit University really felt the charm of the development of the new area and the construction of the city. The teachers and students from the School of Public Administration of Rangsit University took a group photo in the West Coast Planning Exhibition Hall.

Director Qu Yanyang focused on the overall development of the Qingdao West Coast New Area, briefly introduced the background of the East Asia Maine Cooperation Platform (EAMCP), as well as current situation, results of the annual forum and vision for future development; willing to work with East Asian countries to promote in-depth cooperation in the fields of marine economy, science and technology, environmental protection, disaster prevention and mitigation, civilization, etc., and achieve sustainable marine development; invite participants to join the 2019 EAMCP Qingdao Forum. Prof. Anek Laothamatas expressed the intention of Bangkok officials to participate in the Forum, and is willing to make positive contributions to the close cooperation between Qingdao and Thailand. Prof. Anek Laothamatas said he had visited China more than 70 times, but first time to Qingdao, he really felt the speed of Qingdao's economic development and the opening of the city; he looks forward to participating in the 2019 EAMCP Qingdao Forum and agreed to assist in inviting senior officials from the Thai marine management department and scientific research institutes to participate.

EAMCP is a landmark project of “the Belt and Road initiative” proposed by General Secretary Xi Jinping, and a two-way open cooperation platform initiated by Premier Li Keqiang and mainly for ASEAN, China, Japan, and South Korea (10+3). It is committed to building a regional international cooperation organization for marine affairs that “based on East Asia and radiating Asia-Pacific”, deepening international cooperation in the marine field of ASEAN and China, Japan, South Korea (10+3), promoting East Asian economic integration, achieving peaceful development and mutual beneficial cooperation.

The EAMCP, as a priority promotion project of “the Belt and Road”, is tasked with advancing multi-level marine practical cooperation between the ASEAN countries, China, Japan and South Korea, and has created historical opportunities in various fields. In October 2013, Premier Li Keqiang proposed the construction of the East Asian Maine Cooperation Platform at the 16th ASEAN Plus Three (APT) Summit, and proposed relevant suggestions at the 17th, 18th, 19th and 20th Summits; aims to promote cooperation in the fields of marine economy, science and technology, environmental protection, disaster prevention and mitigation, civilization, etc. In November 2013, the State Council of China decided to build EAMCP rely on Shandong Province. In 2014, President Xi Jinping announced that China will invest US $ 40 billion in the establishment of the Silk Road Fund, which provided favorable financial support for the construction of the EAMCP. In 2015, China successfully hosted the Year of China-ASEAN Maritime Cooperation, marine cooperation becomes a new spotlight in China-ASEAN comprehensive cooperation. In December 2015, the establishment of the platform construction leading group and also first meeting of the EAMCP was held in Beijing. It clearly points Qingdao as the core city, and set up the platform headquarter in the West Coast New Area as the permanent meeting place. Since then, the construction of EAMCP had officially started.