BANGKOK, Aug. 9 (Xinhua) -- The opening ceremony of the China-Thailand Joint Research Institute of Natural Medicine was held on Thursday night to promote cooperation on natural medicine research, training between the two countries.

The research institute was jointly set up by four organizations from both countries, namely Chulabhorn Royal Academy, Shanghai University of Traditional Chinese Medicine (SHUTCM), Shanghai Institute of Organic Chemistry (SIOC) of Chinese Academy of Sciences(CAS) and CAS Bangkok Innovation Cooperation Center.

Prof. Dr. Her Royal Highness Princess Chulabhorn Krom Phra Srisavangavadhana attended the opening ceremony and she was named Honorary President of the the institute while Prof. Lin Guoqiang of CAS and Prof. Nithi Mahanonda, secretary general of Chulabhorn Royal Academy were named co-presidents.

Lin and Nithi both spoke highly of Princess Chulabhorn's contribution to the cooperation between China and Thailand and they hailed the establishment of the joint research institute as new achievement of cooperation.

Lyu Jian, Chinese ambassador to Thailand, described the institute in his speech as the first high-level cooperation on joint research, development, technical cooperation and industrial docking of natural medicines.

He noted that China's natural medicine field should actively join all-round cooperations with other countries to contribute to the implementation of China-ASEAN Innovation Community and the health of mankind.

According to organizers, the institute, with its secretariat set up at CAS Bangkok Innovation Cooperation Center, is to gather advanced technology of both China and Thailand to promote in-depth and all-around cooperation on natural medicine research, human resource development, etc. to benefit the two peoples.

SHUTCM vice president Chen Hongzhuan, Nithi of Chulabhorn Royal Academy, SIOC deputy director Yu Biao and CAS Bangkok Innovation Cooperation Center’s director Jiang Biao also signed terms of reference of China-Thailand Natural Medicine Joint Research Institute during the opening ceremony.