On 29 July 2017, the 1st Conference on China-ASEAN Cooperation of Science and Technology & The Unveiling Ceremony of China-ASEAN Institute of Science and Technology was successfully held in Guiyang during the 10th China-ASEAN Education Cooperation Week (CAECW).

The conference was co-hosted by Tianjin University, Harbin Institute of Technology and Northwestern Polytechnical University, supported by ASEAN-China Centre (ACC), and attended by around 150 participants including Mr. Zhao Lingshan, Deputy Director-General of the Department of International Cooperation and Exchanges of the Ministry of Education (MOE) of China, Mrs. Chantavit Sujatanond, Director of Southeast Asian Ministers of Education Organization Regional Centre for Higher Education and Development (SEAMEO RIHED), Mr. Chen Shaorong, Executive Vice Mayor of Guiyang and Mr. Liu Xin, Vice Director General of the Education Commission of Tianjin Municipal People’s Government, as well as university representatives, scholars and experts from China and ASEAN countries. Ms. Kong Roatlomang, Director of Education, Culture and Tourism Division of ACC, participated in the conference and read out the remarks of Secretary-General of ACC at the Opening Ceremony of the event.

In her remarks, Secretary-General Mme. Yang Xiuping of ACC emphasized the significance of holding the conference and establishing the China-ASEAN Institute of Science and Technology. She said that ASEAN and China are seizing new opportunities and vigorously promoting cooperation in various fields with better quality and higher performance. The Belt and Road Forum for International Cooperation successfully held in Beijing in May 2017 not only focused on the importance to align the Belt and Road Initiative with ASEAN Community Vision 2025 and Master Plan on ASEAN Connectivity 2025, but also emphasized the importance to strengthen people-to-people exchanges including cooperation on education, science, technology and so on. Secretary-general Yang Xiuping hoped that all members of the Network could actively share their valuable experiences and ideas and forge closer collaboration for more tangible outcomes. ACC will continue to support the Network as well as the China-ASEAN Institute of Science and Technology, and work together with all friends from both ASEAN and China and continue to actively promote ASEAN-China educational cooperation as well as people-to-people exchanges.

Deputy Director-General Zhao Lingshan, Director Chantavit Sujatanond, Executive Vice Mayor Chen Shaorong and Vice Director General Liu Xin commended the fruitful outcomes that the Network achieved thanks to the concerted efforts of the members since its establishment three years ago, and expected that China-ASEAN Institute of Science and Technology could fully play its role to further elevate ASEAN-China cooperation and exchanges on science and technology in line with the Belt and Road Initiative, thus to make new contribution to ASEAN-China people-to-people exchanges.

During the Conference, all the participants witnessed the inauguration of China-ASEAN Institute of Science and Technology, as well as three centers namely, Center for Smart Ocean, Center for Intelligent Manufacturing and Center for Civil Engineering, and three parallel seminars around the relevant themes were held to further discuss on collaboration and exchange views between universities of both sides.