On the 26 April 2017, the ASEAN-China Seminar on Foster Educational Quality through International Collaboration:?Academic Research and Exchanges between Hainan and ASEAN took place in Haikou, Hainan province. H.E. Mme. Yang Xiuping, Secretary-General of?ASEAN-China Centre(ACC), Mr. Li Yuenan, Deputy Director-General of the Department of Education of Hainan Province, and Ms. Phunyanuch Pattanotai, Programme Director of SEAMEO Regional Centre for Higher Education and Development (SEAMEO RIHED), participated in the Seminar.

Secretary-General Yang mentioned that Education exchanges and cooperation is an important part of ASEAN-China people-to-people exchanges, it plays a key role in enhancing mutual understanding and friendship, promoting in cultivation of skilled professionals and contributing to economic and social development in ASEAN and China. ACC has been working hand-in-hand with governmental administrations, regional partners and educational institutions to establish platforms and networks to pave the way for more education exchanges between the two sides. ACC has also established close relations with SEAMEO RIHED, organized several visits and enhanced the mutual understanding among ASEAN countries. Secretary-General Yang also expressed her confidence in today’s seminar and hoped that all the representatives could take this opportunity to have broad and in-depth discussions, share ideas and suggestions to accelerate the development of ASEAN-China and ASEAN-Hainan education cooperation.

Deputy Director-General Li Yuenan, pointed out that Hainan has put education development as its priority, and viewed education development as one of its main pillars for Hainan development. A comprehensive education system has been established. In recent years, Hainan has expanded its priority in education cooperation to ASEAN countries, while its education policy has been broadened to allow constructive cooperation. With the joint efforts of both sides, ASEAN-China education cooperation has produced fruitful results in people-to-people exchanges, jointly establishing universities, promoting Chinese language, and education training. Mr. Li Yuenan also hoped Hainan Universities could take this seminar as a pivotal opportunity to build up connection and to actively seek cooperation between universities in Hainan and ASEAN countries.

Ms. Phunyanuch Pattanotai briefed the SEAMEO RIHED situation and highly valued the fruitful achievement made by ACC and SEAMEO RIHED. She stressed that the seminar built significant platform and provided opportunity for both sides to cultivate educational exchanges and explore new ways to strengthen cooperation. It would eventually produce positive outcomes on improving education quality and promoting talents exchanges. She also hoped both sides could take this opportunity to deepen mutually beneficial cooperation and build a brighter future in the region.