SHANGHAI, August 20 – The plenary session of the Global New Energy Vehicle Cooperation and Development Forum (GNEV2026), a premier global event for the automotive industry, opened in Shanghai. Centered on the theme “New Pathways for Global Cooperation in the Automotive Industry,” the forum brought together senior government officials, executives from leading global automotive companies, authoritative industry think tanks, international industry associations, and representatives of leading universities and institutions to explore major issues including localized collaboration in the global automotive industry, compliance frameworks for international expansion, deeper integration across the industrial chain, and the interoperability of international standards. As a leading private university in Thailand and a benchmark institution in China-Thailand international industry-education integration, Assumption University was invited to participate in the forum’s key sessions. Serving as a principal representative of Thai higher education, the University joined Shanghai International Automobile City (Group) Co., Ltd., China EV100 Research Institute, and other partners in signing the Memorandum of Understanding on China-Thailand Certification and Training Cooperation for New Energy Vehicle Service Personnel. Drawing on its mature experience and leading strengths in international industry-education integration, enterprise-tailored talent development, and cross-border internship and employment systems, Assumption University will help build a flagship platform for China-Thailand cooperation in developing internationally oriented NEV professionals and strengthen the talent foundation for the Chinese NEV industry’s long-term growth in ASEAN markets.
The plenary session was moderated by Liu Xiaoshi, President of China EV100 International. Liu Jiafeng, member of the Leading Party Members Group of the Jiading District People’s Government and Deputy District Mayor, delivered the opening address. Jiang Yaoping, former Vice Minister of Commerce of China, and Zhang Yongwei, Chief Expert of China EV100 International and Chairman of China EV100 Research Institute, subsequently delivered keynote reports that charted the direction for global automotive industry cooperation. Senior executives from leading Chinese automakers included Di Zhirui, Vice President of Changan Automobile; Wang Lang, Vice President of Chery Automobile; Lu Fang, Chairman and Party Secretary of VOYAH; Liang Linhe, Board Director of SANY Group and Chairman of SANY Heavy Truck; and Zhu Yongqing, Deputy General Manager of Great Wall Motor. Leaders from major global automotive component and technology companies included Lin Guangqiu, Senior Vice President of Desay SV; Liang Rui, Co-President of Sunwoda Electronic Co., Ltd.; Shalini Palmer, Global Vice President of Automotive Business at Analog Devices (ADI); Zhang Lan, Vice President of Volkswagen Group China; and representatives of NXP and BASF. Industry authorities, including Zhang Lin, Chief Representative in China of the German Association of the Automotive Industry (VDA), and Sun Xiaohong, former Secretary-General of the Automotive Internationalization Committee of the China Chamber of Commerce for Import and Export of Machinery and Electronic Products (CCCME), joined overseas higher education representatives including Gao Li, Assistant Vice President of Assumption University. Participants engaged in in-depth strategic dialogue on the globalization of the automotive industry and jointly witnessed the launch of this major China-Thailand industry-education integration initiative.
The International Cooperation Base for the Automotive Industry launched in connection with this signing is a national-level industry cooperation platform built on Shanghai International Automobile City’s designation by the Ministry of Science and Technology as a National International Science and Technology Cooperation Base. It brings together premier industrial platforms, full-scenario application ecosystems, and international service resources. As an authoritative independent think tank in China’s new energy and intelligent vehicle sector, China EV100 Research Institute possesses deep industry research expertise and strong capabilities in cross-border resource integration. The MOU signed at the forum is a landmark international cooperation outcome following the establishment of the Base and another benchmark initiative by Assumption University in China-Thailand industry-education integration.
Assumption University Signs the Memorandum of Understanding on China-Thailand Certification and Training Cooperation for New Energy Vehicle Service Personnel
As one of Thailand’s oldest and most internationalized private universities, Assumption University has long been deeply engaged in China-Thailand higher education exchanges and cross-border industry-education integration. It is a leader in Thailand and across ASEAN in international industry-education integration, enterprise-tailored talent development, and cross-border internship and employment systems. The University has developed a mature end-to-end talent development model integrating university-enterprise collaboration, targeted training, and cross-border employment. In close alignment with the needs of ASEAN’s emerging industries, it has partnered with leading Chinese enterprises to establish multiple cohorts of enterprise-tailored programs. It has also built an integrated system for faculty and student mobility, mutual credit recognition, practical training, and employment between China and Thailand. These efforts have supplied large numbers of highly qualified, internationally oriented professionals for coordinated industrial development in both countries, earning Assumption University wide recognition for its leading practices and benchmark cases in cross-border industry-education integration.
As the global automotive industry’s transition to electrification accelerates, China’s new energy vehicle industry is expanding rapidly across ASEAN. Thailand, a central hub of Southeast Asia’s automotive industry and a growth center for the new energy sector, is seeing rising demand for highly skilled multidisciplinary professionals in NEV after-sales service and maintenance, testing and diagnostics, technical services, and operations management. A reliable supply of localized talent has become a critical requirement for Chinese automakers seeking sustainable growth in ASEAN markets. Under the MOU, participating partners will establish a regular cross-border communication and coordination mechanism. Guided by the Belt and Road Initiative and Thailand’s Eastern Economic Corridor development framework, they will leverage Assumption University’s benchmark strengths in industry-education integration to jointly develop localized NEV training standards and an occupational competency certification system for Thailand. The system will cover core competencies including hands-on technical skills, after-sales service, maintenance and repair, and testing and diagnostics. The partners will jointly implement skills training, student practical training, professional competency enhancement, enterprise-tailored training, and other programs; explore a mechanism for recognizing consortium members; and, subject to written agreement among all parties, jointly issue training certificates and occupational recognition documents. These efforts will provide Thailand’s NEV industry with a sustained pipeline of highly qualified technical professionals whose skills match local market needs.
Liu Jiafeng, Member of the Leading Party Members Group of the Jiading District People’s Government and Deputy District Mayor, Delivers Remarks
Jiang Yaoping, Former Vice Minister of Commerce of China, Delivers Remarks
Zhang Yongwei, Chief Expert of China EV100 International, Delivers Remarks
Global expansion begins with talent; industry-education integration sets the benchmark. The signing of this MOU is an important example of government-industry-academia-research collaboration in the internationalization of China’s automotive industry. It also marks a major step by Assumption University to leverage its benchmark strengths and deepen China-Thailand cooperation in education and industry. With participation from the governments of both countries, leading enterprises, authoritative think tanks, international associations, and leading universities, the cooperation will focus on jointly developing talent standards, enabling mutual recognition of occupational certifications, conducting joint practical training, and empowering enterprise-tailored talent development. It directly addresses the shortage of localized professionals facing Chinese automakers expanding into Southeast Asia, strengthens the foundation for pragmatic cooperation between the Chinese and Thai automotive industries, and creates a replicable and scalable model for international cooperation in the coordinated development of the China-ASEAN automotive industry. In doing so, it will continue to support the coordinated economic and social development of China and Thailand and advance the Belt and Road Initiative.
WRITER: ASSUMPTION UNIVERSITY OF THAILAND
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