On 24 April 2018, H.E. Mme. Yang Xiuping, Secretary-General of ASEAN-China Centre (ACC), attended the 3rd ASEAN-China Youth Forum in Shandong University and addressed the opening ceremony.

Secretary-General Yang Xiuping commended the fruitful achievements of Shandong province and Shandong University in carrying out education exchanges and cooperation with ASEAN countries, and briefed on the development of ASEAN-China relations and bilateral education collaboration. She stated that this year marks the 15th anniversary of ASEAN-China strategic partnership. Over the past 15 years, ASEAN-China relations have grown rapidly across the board and made remarkable achievements. It has become the most dynamic and robust one that ASEAN has with its dialogue partners. Education cooperation has always been an important part of ASEAN-China relations. The student mobility between ASEAN and China exceeded 200,000 at the end of 2017.Both sides are working together towards the upgraded version of the “Double 100,000 Student Mobility Program” with the goal of realizing 300,000 two-way student mobility by the end of 2025.China has set up 30 ASEAN-China Education and Training Centres within China, and 33 Confucius Institutes and 35 Confucius Classrooms in ASEAN countries. In 2018, China will invite 3,000 ASEAN visitors to China for study programmes. In the next three years, China will provide no less than 20,000 government scholarships to ASEAN countries. In the next five years, China will invite 500 young ASEAN scientists to China for short-term scientific research, provide 1,200 training opportunities for ASEAN professionals in science, technology and management, and launch 10 joint laboratories. China and ASEAN countries have vast potentials and broad prospects in furthering deepen education exchanges and cooperation.

Secretary-General Yang said that ASEAN and China are both in a new era of development. China is taking the opportunity of the 40th anniversary of its reform and opening up to embark on a new journey of building socialism with Chinese characteristics for a new era. At the same time, ASEAN has entered the second 50 years of its development and is committed to building a higher level of ASEAN Community. Both ASEAN and China have taken innovation-driven development as its priority task. Adhering to the principle of innovative, coordinated, green, and open development that is for everyone, China is pursuing a strategy of innovation-driven development and turning itself into a country of innovators. ASEAN has also placed greater emphasis on innovation. The ASEAN Summit last November issued the “ASEAN Declaration on Innovation”, noting that ASEAN will stipulate holistic policies that foster innovation, encourage and support innovation-oriented enterprises, support Micro, Small, and Medium-sized Enterprises, and strengthen research and innovation. This year is the ASEAN-China Year of Innovation, it is believed that this is a good opportunity for both sides to learn from each other and draw on each other’s strengths for common development and open up brighter prospects for the building of a higher level of ASEAN-China Strategic Partnership.

Secretary-General Yang outlined ACC’s mandate and efforts in promoting ASEAN-China education cooperation. She encouraged students of ASEAN and China to engage in active and in-depth discussions on science and innovation and share observations on enhancing the awareness of innovation among the younger generation, so as to make further contribution to promoting ASEAN-China Innovation cooperation, boosting bilateral sustainable development, and building a community of a shared future for mankind.