On June 19, International Research and Training Centre for Rural Education (UNESCO INRULED), SEAMEO Regional Centre for STEM Education (STEM-ED), and Chongqing Bashu Primary School held the coordination meeting on China-Southeast Asia STEM Education Research and Cooperation Programme.

Attendees included Dr. Kritsachai Somsaman (Director, SEAMEO STEM-ED), Dr. Orawan Sriboonruang (Knowledge Management Management, SEAMEO STEM-ED), Dr. Qi Xinjian (Assistant Director, UNESCO INRULED), Ms. Fang Yuan'an (Programme Coordinator, UNESCO INRULED), Ms. Pan Nan (Principal, Chongqing Bashu Primary School) and Ms. Chen Yi (Vice Principal, Chongqing Bashu Primary School). Representatives from the Institute for the Promotion of Teaching Science and Technology of Thailand, the Plean Pattana School in Bangkok, and two border schools near the Thai-Lao border (Sikaiwitthayakom School and Thanakornsongkhor School of Nong Khai Province) also joined the coordination meeting.

INRULED has taken the studies and capacity building for small-scale rural schools as a key driver for educational equity and quality improvement, while SEAMEO's Border Schools Project supports marginalized schools through policy interventions and targeted assistance. Building on this shared vision, the programme will pilot collaborations between urban and rural border schools in Thailand, with a focus on strengthening STEM subjects (math, science), promoting project-based learning, supporting Chinese language courses, facilitating online resource sharing, encouraging teacher-student exchanges, etc. The initiative aims to enhance educational equity, school capacity, and teacher-student competencies, contributing to theachievement of the Sustainable Development Goal 4 (Quality Education).