On February 5, Deputy Prime Minister of Thailand and Minister of Finance, Pichai Chunhavajira, along with Secretary-General to the Prime Minister of Thailand, Prommin Lertsuridej, led a high-level delegation to visit the Multi-Omics Joint Center - a collaborative endeavor between the Chinese Academy of Sciences' Institute of Genetics and Developmental Biology and BGI-Research. The delegation was warmly welcomed by BGI Group CEO Yin Ye and Vice President Li Ning.

Deputy Prime Minister of Thailand and Minister of Finance, Pichai Chunhavajira (fourth from the right), and Secretary-General to the Prime Minister of Thailand, Prommin Lertsuridej (second from the right) visit the Multi-Omics Joint Center in Beijing.

The delegation included several distinguished officials, among them Vorapak Tanyawong, Chairperson of the Advisory Committee to the Minister of Finance, Narit Therdsteerasukdi, Secretary General of Thailand Board of Investment (BOI), and Liu Weidong, Director of the Bureau of International Cooperation at the Chinese Academy of Sciences.

BGI Group CEO Yin Ye (right) presents BGI Group’s latest spatial-temporal sequencing technology and shares updates on the company's ongoing collaborations in Thailand.

During the visit, Deputy Prime Minister Pichai and Secretary-General Prommin examined BGI Group’s state-of-the-art gene sequencing platforms, expressing keen interest in their performance, adaptability, and potential applications. The delegation also explored BGI’s cutting-edge sequencing laboratory, cell omics laboratory, and spatial omics laboratory, gaining a deeper understanding of the company’s latest advancements and ongoing development initiatives in Thailand.

Deputy Prime Minister Pichai emphasized Thailand’s commitment to fostering closer scientific and technological cooperation with BGI Group in the coming years. Secretary-General Prommin commended BGI’s impressive technological innovations and reaffirmed Thailand’s support for BGI’s expanding presence in the country. He underscored BGI’s potential to enhance public health and medical research in Thailand, contributing significantly to the well-being of its people.

Meeting and discussion session with the visiting delegation.

Yin Ye provided updates on BGI Group's ongoing collaborations in Thailand, including the implementation of non-invasive prenatal testing technology, support for local public healthcare initiatives, and partnerships with Thai institutions to train professionals in genomics. He also highlighted the recent participation of BGI Group Chairman and Co-Founder Wang Jian in the 2025 Thailand Prince Mahidol Award Conference, where his keynote speech, “Omics for All,” received widespread acclaim. Yin expressed confidence in further strengthening BGI’s collaboration with Thailand in the years ahead.

Group photo of the visiting delegation and BGI Group executives.

BGI Group has fostered a long-standing partnership with Thailand, demonstrating its commitment to international humanitarian efforts and scientific collaboration. In the aftermath of the 2004 Indian Ocean tsunami, BGI swiftly deployed a DNA identification team to assist in identifying victims, highlighting its dedication to global disaster response. Over the years, BGI has worked closely with Thai institutions on whole-genome research projects, joint talent development programs, and public health initiatives. Strengthening this collaboration further, in July 2023, BGI signed a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) with the Faculty of Medicine Siriraj Hospital at Mahidol University, Hemogen Hong Kong Alpha Technology Co., Ltd., and Bangkok Genomics Innovation Public Company Limited (BKGI) to advance efforts in the prevention and gene therapy of thalassemia.