On 30 November 2017, ASEAN-China Forum for Private Higher Education Development and Cooperation was successfully concluded in Sanya, Hainan province. The Forum was organized by University of Sanya (USY), and supported by ASEAN-China Centre (ACC), Southeast Asian Ministers of Education Organization Regional Centre for Higher Education and Development (SEAMEO RIHED) and Higher Education Professional Committee of China’s Non-Government Education Association (HEPCCNGEA).

More than 60 participants including government officials and representatives from universities and education institutions of China and six ASEAN countries including Cambodia, Indonesia, Malaysia, Myanmar, the Philippines and Thailand took part in the forum. H.E. Mme. Yang Xiuping, Secretary-General of ACC, Mr. Kong Lingde, Deputy Director-General of Education Department of Hainan Province, Dr. Chantavit Sujatonond, Centre Director of SEAMEO RIHED, Mr. Dai Yuming, Vice Mayor of Sanya Municipal Government, Ms. Ji Ping, Director-General of HEPCCNGEA, Mr. Liu Baoli，Executive Secretary-General of the Secretariat of China-ASEAN Education Cooperation Week (CAECW), and Prof. Lu Dan, President of USY, addressed the opening ceremony.

During the keynote speech session, seven speakers from Indonesia, the Philippines, Thailand and China made presentations respectively on the topics of Developing Positive Government-University Relationship, Development Prospect of Private Higher Education, Before and Beyond the Future of Private Higher Education in Asia, the Practice and Exploration of ASEAN-China Private Education Cooperation under “the Belt and Road” Initiative, etc. and shared views and cases, and analyzed and explored the future cooperation between ASEAN and China.

In the afternoon’s breakout session, the participants, who were divided into three groups, had in-depth discussions and view-exchanging on the topics of Develop Positive University-Government Relationship, the Path and Direction of ASEAN-China Private Higher Education Development and Mutual Learning and Complementary Development: the Prospects for the Development of Tourism Management Cooperation between ASEAN-China Higher Education Institutions. The atmosphere was warm and lively.

At the closing ceremony, each group made a summary report on the topic which highlighted some of the issues, suggested important points and put forward key measures for the mutual benefit of ASEAN-China education cooperation. Ms. Che Yi, Vice President of USY, delivered closing remarks with sincere appreciation to all the participants present in the forum in particular to ACC and SEAMEO RIHED for the continued support to USY.

Afterward, the Strategic Cooperation Framework for ASEASN-China Private Higher Education Institutions between USY and the universities of six ASEAN countries was signed under the witness of ACC and SEAMEO RIHED. Besides, USY also signed 14 cooperation MoUs with the universities of Cambodia, Indonesia and Thailand.

?