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Better education for Asia proposed at education forum

By Yuan Yue (China Daily)
Updated: 2009-11-18 15:28

The 2009 Educational Forum for Asia: Euro-Asia Education Cooperation Conference wrapped up in Xi'an on Nov 17, where specialists and deputies discussed innovation and cooperation on the sustainable development of education in western China.

The two-day conference came in the wake of a blizzard in the ancient city, which hosted over 200 participants from both home and abroad.

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It was the second time the education forum was involved in the Euro-Asia Economic Forum, which is held at the same time in Xi'an, a signal that educational exchange has drawn increasing attention as countries propose economic cooperation, said Yao Wang, Secretary-General of the Education Forum for Asia (EFA).

"The cooperation on education plays an indispensible role in the exchange and joint development against the backdrop of globalization," stressed Lee Soo-Sung, ex-Premier of South Korea, in his speech at the opening ceremony. "It would contribute significantly to the peaceful development and co-prosperity of human beings."

Former Prime Minister of Nepal, as well as one of the initiators of the Educational Forum for Asia, Kirti Nidhi Bista, pointed out that the cultivation of talents should correspond to the process of a nation's development.

"Education nowadays ought to be adjusted to the ever-changing situation instead of being regarded alone. This industry is now faced with all kinds of challenges and opportunities just as other sectors of our daily life," he said.

The Educational Forum for Asia, promoted by Boao Forum for Asia, United Nations Educational, Scientific, and Cultural Organization (UNESCO), China Scholarship Council and Ministry of Education in 2002, is devoted to ameliorate the educational level in Asia and to offer students in difficulty a better chance to gain knowledge, according to the Forum.

Delegates in attendance also shared views about ways to have balanced development of basic education, to cultivate innovative talents, and to raise educational charity funds.

Linda Wang, President of Yihai Education Group, one of the organizers of the conference, gave her views on education: "The supporting point for a harmonious society, as we know, is education - it is the program with the highest return rate." "No matter how much we have invested in education, it is value for money, because it is the best cure for poverty," she added.

Wang's idea was echoed by Zhang Baoqing, former Deputy Minister of Education.

"Charity is just emerging in China; however, we have seen numerous charitable foundations established here in recent years. If we can seize this opportunity, we would change the life of these students in difficulty, or even the whole nation," Zhang said.

He also spoke on the importance of educating teenagers: "Teenagers are the future not only of their own families, but also of the country. If their studies are to be disrupted because of poverty, it is of high probability that their talent would be buried. To provide them with financial aid is, therefore, providing our future with hope."