On 30 November 2017, ASEAN-China Private Higher Education Development and Cooperation Forum successfully opened at the University of Sanya (USY). Among the participants were Government Officials from China, Cambodia, Indonesia, Malaysia, Myanmar, the Philippines and Thailand, representatives of education institutions and private universities, as well as Southeast Asian Ministers of Education Organization (SEAMEO) and Secretariat of China-ASEAN Education Cooperation Week (CAECW). Ms. Che Yi, Vice President of USY, hosted the opening ceremony. H.E. Mme. Yang Xiuping, Secretary-General of ASEAN-China Centre (ACC) and other participants were present and delivered remarks.

Prof. Lu Dan, President of USY, briefed on the development of the university and extended gratitude to ACC and other units for their support to this forum and strengthening cooperation with the counterparts of ASEAN countries. He said that ASEAN-China education exchanges and cooperation have broad prospects, and the forum will provide a new opportunity and platform to expand and extend education cooperation and lead to a much broader space. USY and private universities of China and ASEAN countries will also uphold a global view and a more open attitude to advance new progress of ASEAN-China education cooperation through active?participation, in-depth development, mutual learning, win-win cooperation and innovative coordination model, so as to build with full strength the ASEAN-China education community.

Mr. Kong Lingde, Deputy Director-General of the Education Department of Hainan Province, said that Hainan regards promoting education exchanges and cooperation with ASEAN countries as the focus of educational opening-up. Both sides have carried out a series of cooperation in the areas of people-to-people exchange, international student education, international cooperation in education, international promotion of Chinese language and education training, and achieved good effect. Hainan actively involves social forces in education, encourages and supports private higher education, and puts forward a series of incentive policies. He expected that universities of china and ASEAN countries will join hands to reach more important consensus, and to create new field, new approach and new idea for private higher education cooperation.

Mr. Dai Yuming, Vice Mayor of Sanya Municipal Government, stated that Sanya has unique regional advantage in conducting exchanges and cooperation in education with ASEAN countries. Sanya plays an increasingly vital role in the process of Maritime Silk Road, and makes great efforts and contributions to promoting and building ASEAN-China community. He appreciated ACC’s valuable support and assistance to boost friendly exchanges between Sanya and ASEAN countries, and looked forward to continuously strengthening communication with ACC.

Dr. Chantavit Sujatonond, Centre Director of SEAMEO Regional Centre for Higher Education and Development (RIHED), said that SEAMEO RIHED is committed to promoting regionalization and internationalization of private higher education institutions cooperation over recent years in such forms as teachers and students exchange, research collaboration and joint degree programme through the effective platforms jointly built with partners like ACC. This forum finds a new path in the area of existing cooperation between ASEAN and China, and establishes a new educational cooperation network to connect universities between Southeast Asia and China, which is conducive to both sides in supporting each other, close connectivity and joint cultivation of personnel, and inject new impetus to the global higher education cooperation.

Mr. Liu Baoli, Executive Secretary-General of the Secretariat of CAECW, mentioned with a view of strengthening exchanges and cooperation on ASEAN-China private higher education, which is an important initiative for promoting education cooperation process along the Silk Road countries, and would provide vigorous support of intelligence and talent to the joint building of the Belt and Road. He hoped the forum would build bridge of spirit, friendship and understanding between private higher education institutions of China and ASEAN countries, so as to make a positive contribution to further expanding ASEAN-China education cooperation and people-to-people exchanges.

Ms. Ji Ping, Director General of the Higher Education Professional Committee of China’s Non-Government Education Association, read out congratulatory letter from Mr. Wang Zuoshu, President of Higher Education of China’s Non-Government Education Association, and delivered her own speech. She stated the mission of education is to cultivate qualified professionals to meet the needs of the country. It was believed that all parties could reach a consensus, accumulate synergy, continuously practice and innovate, to play the main melody of China-ASEAN private higher education cooperation, thus to make due contribution to the building of the ASEAN-China community.