On August 21, the 2024 China-ASEAN Education Cooperation Week (CAECW) opened in Gui’an New Area, Guiyang, under the theme “Strengthening Education Cooperation and People-to-people Exchanges for a Brighter Shared Future”.

Ding Zhongli, Vice Chairman of the Standing Committee of the National People’s Congress and Chairman of the Central Committee of the China Democratic League, attended the event and announced its opening. Khambai Damlath, Vice Chairman of the Lao National Assembly, delivered a speech. Also present were Xu Lin, Secretary of the CPC Guizhou Provincial Committee and Chairman of the Standing Committee of the Guizhou Provincial People’s Congress, and Bounta Thepphavong, Chairman of the Lao National Assembly’s Cultural and Social Affairs Committee. Li Bingjun, Deputy Secretary of the CPC Guizhou Provincial Committee and Governor of Guizhou Province, delivered a welcome address. Other speakers included He Guangcai, Vice Minister of Education of China; Moe Zaw Tun, Deputy Minister of Education of Myanmar; Om Romny, Secretary of State of the Ministry of Education, Youth, and Sports of Cambodia; Habibah Abdul Rahim, Director of SEAMEO Secretariat; and Shi Zhongjun, Secretary-General of the China-ASEAN Center. Important attendees also included Sourioudong Sundara, Deputy Minister of Education and Sports of Laos; Vandy Boudthasavong, Vice Chairman of the Lao National Assembly’s Foreign Affairs Committee; Chinese Ambassador Wang Fukun, and several provincial leaders of Guizhou, including Guo Xiwen, Wang Shijie, Zhang Guangqi, and Ran Xia. Deputy Governor Zhang Jingping presided over the opening ceremony.

Li Bingjun warmly welcomed the guests on behalf of the CPC Guizhou Provincial Committee and the Provincial Government. He noted that the CAECW has, over the past 17 years, played a pivotal role in fostering a closer China-ASEAN community with a shared future. Guizhou Province will continue collaborating with ASEAN partners to promote high-level educational exchanges, expand the scope of the CAECW, and explore new models for “Education+” cooperation, striving for more tangible achievements in areas such as industry development, cultural tourism, and trade along the Belt and Road.

He Guangcai, speaking on behalf of the Ministry of Education, congratulated the attendees on the opening of the event and reiterated China’s commitment to deepening all-round educational reforms, expanding educational openness, and making a greater contribution to regional educational cooperation and global education governance.

Khambai Damlath, speaking on behalf of Laos as the chair of ASEAN this year, emphasized that Laos is committed to advancing cooperation with China and other ASEAN members in the fields of education, culture, and the economy, and further enhancing the China-ASEAN community of shared future. Moe Zaw Tun, Om Romny, Habibah Abdul Rahim, and Shi Zhongjun expressed their belief that the CAECW has served as a cultural bridge between China and ASEAN countries. They pledged continued efforts to expand cooperation in education and other areas and greater joint contributions to the high-quality development of the Belt and Road Initiative.

During the opening ceremony, the “China-ASEAN Thousand Schools Hands Together Initiative” was announced, the “Let’s Explore Guizhou Together” youth exchange program was initiated, and the Global E-commerce Education Development Alliance was launched. The Guizhou Provincial Government entered into strategic cooperation agreements with Fudan University, Nankai University, and Beijing Foreign Studies University, while various institutions signed project cooperation agreements. Attendees also enjoyed cultural performances, watched a thematic video, and visited the CAECW exhibition.

Also attending the opening ceremony were officials from the Ministry of Foreign Affairs, the Ministry of Education, and other national ministries; education officials from ASEAN countries; ambassadors and diplomats from various countries in China; leaders of international organizations; representatives, experts and scholars from universities, research institutes and renowned enterprises; heads of education departments from Hong Kong and various provinces, autonomous regions, and municipalities; as well as representatives from associations, societies, and provincial departments.

Source: Eyesnews

Editor: Zhang Chan

Chief Editor: Li Xufeng

Senior Editor: Ding Long

Translator: Jia Haibo