On 30 November, 2017, H.E. Mme. Yang Xiuping, Secretary-General of ASEAN-China Centre (ACC), addressed the opening ceremony of China-ASEAN Private Higher Education Development and Cooperation Forum held by University of Sanya.

Secretary-General Yang stated that eeducation is the core foundation of social progress, and the driving force for national development. It bears the welfare of every family and individual. Currently, both ASEAN and China are at a crucial stage of development, which calls for a large number of skilled personnel. As an important component of national education system, pprivate higher education plays an increasingly significant role in promoting balanced development of education and the all-round social and economic development. With the successful conclusion of the 19th National Congress of the Communist Party of China, China’s development has entered a new era. The Congress stressed the importance to develop education as a priority, and to support the well-regulated development of private schools. While ASEAN has made tremendous achievements over the past 50 years since its establishment, and is committed to building a people-centred community and striving for a higher level of community as mapped out in the ASEAN Community Vision 2025. The two sides enjoy great potential and broad prospects to further deepen educational exchanges and cooperation.

Secretary-General Yang commended that Hainan province has always been committed to building high-level universities with top-ranking disciplines, and deepening education exchanges and cooperation with ASEAN countries. As a well-known tourism city, Sanya has unique strength in deepening practical cooperation in education and other areas with ASEAN countries. As an outstanding representative of private universities in China, University of Sanya has made great contribution. Since its establishment more than ten years ago, the University of Sanya has made rapid progress, increased its comprehensive competitiveness, and achieved fruitful outcomes. As an expert in education, President Lu Dan led his team actively to devote themselves to the development of private higher education of China. President Lu Dan initiated this forum and has made tremendous efforts in the preparatory process. It is timely to hold the ASEAN-China Private Higher Education Development and Cooperation Forum as it aimed to build and expand the platform of exchanges and cooperation between private education institutions of both sides, and to explore the establishment of long-term and effective mechanisms for people-to-people exchanges and educational cooperation between private higher education institutions, which would meet the need of both sides to further expand the forms and contents of ASEAN-China education exchanges and cooperation.The forum would be helpful for Hainan Province and Sanya city to expand exchanges with ASEAN countries. The University of Sanya would deepen their cooperation with universities of ASEAN countries, and lay a more solid foundation for their everlasting friendship and deeper cooperation. She hoped every participant could make full use of this opportunity to exchange in-depth views, share successful experience, build cooperation consensus, and draw up blue print for future cooperation, thus to contribute wisdom and strength to the common development of private higher education of ASEAN and China.

Secretary-General Yang briefed on ACC’s mandate and the fruitful outcomes of promoting ASEAN-China practical cooperation in the fields of education. She mentioned that education exchanges and cooperation are one of ACC’s priority areas. ACC has fully leveraged its advantage to connect government agencies with education institutions of ASEAN and China, vigorously support youth exchanges, and organize such activities as summer camp, youth forum, youth football match. ACC has made great efforts to promote the friendship between ASEAN and China and achieved satisfactory results. ACC will join hands with people from all sectors, to make even greater contributions to the building of the ASEAN-China community of shared future for the benefits of people on both sides.