On June 12, 2025 – Chengdu, China, Dr. Wenchao Xue from the School of Engineering and Technology at the Asian Institute of Technology (AIT) participated in the 9th Digital Belt and Road Conference (DBAR 2025) held from June 8–11, 2025, in Chengdu, China. The conference, hosted by the Digital Belt and Road Program (DBAR), the Aerospace Information Research Institute of the Chinese Academy of Sciences (AIRCAS), and Chengdu University of Technology, focused on the theme “Sustainable Transformation through Digital Sciences.”
During the event, Dr. Wenchao was appointed Co-Chair of the DBAR Task Force on “Big Earth Data in Support of the Sustainable Development Goals in Southeast Asia (DBAR-SEA),” reflecting a significant milestone in AIT’s regional engagement in digital sustainability research.
Marking DBAR’s 10-year anniversary, the conference convened global experts to explore how emerging digital technologies can accelerate sustainable development, particularly in developing regions. Dr. Xue also witnessed the signing of an MOU between the National Research Council of Thailand (NRCT) and International Research Center of Big Data for Sustainable Development Goals (CBAS), Chinese Academy of Sciences, which will enhance cross-border cooperation on data-driven sustainable development.
On June 10, Dr. Xue co-chaired a side event titled “Advancing Sustainability through Digital Science and Innovation in Southeast Asia,” and presented her work on “Leveraging Big Earth Data for SDG Assessment at the Provincial Scale in Thailand.” The session marked the official launch of the DBAR-SEA Task Force, setting the stage for strengthened collaboration and capacity building across the region.
