On 1st September, 2014, the 7th China-ASEAN Education Cooperation Week (CAECW), sponsored by the Ministry of Foreign Affairs (MOFA) , Ministry of Education (MOE) of the PRC and the People's Government of Guizhou Province, was solemnly held in Guiyang International Eco-conference Center, Guizhou province.
Mr. Ma Peihua, Vice-Chairman of the Chinese People's Political Consultative Conference (CPPCC), declared the CAECW open. Mr. Zhao Kezhi, Secretary of CPC Guizhou Provincial Committee, H.E. Mr. Tin Oo, Ambassador of Myanmar, Rotating Chairmanship of ASEAN in 2014, Mr. Liu Zhenmin, Vice-Minister of the Ministry of Foreign Affairs, and Mr. Cao Weizhou, Vice Secretary-General of the Standing Committee of National People’s Congress delivered their respective remarks.
Mr. Ma Mingqiang, Secretary-General of ASEAN-China Centre, together with Mr. Chen Min'er, Governor of Guizhou Province, Mr. Wang Suyu, Chairman of Guizhou Provincial People’s Political Consultative Conference, Mr. Hao Ping, Vice-Minister of Education, Mr. Ning Fukui, Chinese Ambassador to Thailand, Mr. Zhang Xinsheng, Former President of China Education Association of International Exchange and Secretary-General of Eco-civilization Guiyang International forum, Mr. Long Yongtu, Former Vice-Minister of Foreign Trade and Economic Cooperation participated in the opening ceremony.
On the following Minister Forum, Mr. Chen Min'er, Mr. Pit Chamnan，Secretary of State of the Ministry of Education ,Youth adn Aports of Cambodia, Mr. Hao Ping, Mr. Ma Mingqiang, H. E. Dr. Zaw Min Aung, Vice Minister of Education of Myanmar, Mr. Witaya Jeradechakul, Director of the Southeast Asian Ministers of Education Organization (SEAMEO) Secretariat, delivered keynote speeches.
In his remarks, Mr. Ma Mingqiang said since its establishment three years ago, ASEAN-China Centre (ACC) had emphasized the importance of promoting education, and China-ASEAN Education Cooperation Week (CAECW) is one of its important platforms. This year marks the 3rd year that ACC has participated in CAECW. ACC also worked closely with ASEAN and China educational authorities to enhance education cooperation and exchanges between China and ASEAN and to realize the Double 100,000 Student Mobility Goal.
Ma Mingqiang also noted that education usually heralds and guides socio-economic developmentand and is fundamental for it. China and ASEAN countries have their own unique features in education, and should learn from each other's experiences. Educational exchange, an important aspect of people-to-people exchanges, is the foundation of developing relations between China and ASEAN in the future. ACC also focuses on promoting institutional connectivity. In June 2014, ACC facilitated the establishment of ASEAN-China Education Research Network. ACC, together with its partners, will propose to set up the ASEAN-China vocational education cooperation mechanism, and establish the ASEAN-China Consortium for Vocational Education Cooperation.
Ma Mingqiang underscored that CAECW should become a platform for policy dialogues between education authorities of China and ASEAN member states, a platform for sharing of best practices between higher education institutions, for showcasing cooperation and exchange outcomes and a pioneer of China-ASEAN people-to-people exchange. CAECW can also continue to work with SEAMEO secretariat, as well as its 21 regional centers, and encourage them to propose discussion topics and organize meetings.
During the CAECW, ACC organized and co-organized a number of events, including the Information Sharing Session of ACC,"My ASEAN and China" Multi-media Exhibition, ASEAN-China Education Officials Forum, ASEAN-China University Presidents Cooperation Symposium, ASEAN-China TVET Summit and ASEAN-China Education Research Network Meeting.
