The China-ASEAN Vocational Education Forum and Exhibition of Successful Cooperative Programmes was successfully held in Guiyang from 26 to 27 July 2018. The event was co-hosted by ASESN-China Centre (ACC), China Education Association of International Exchange (CEAIE), Zhejiang Provincial Department of Education, and Southeast Asian Ministers of Education Organization (SEAMEO) Regional Centre for Vocational and Technical Education and Training (VOCTECH). Mr. Wei Guonan, Deputy Governor of Guizhou Province, Mr. Chen Dehai, ACC Secretary-General, Dr. Gatot Hari Priowirjanto, Director of SEAMEO Secretariat, Mr. Zhao Lingshan, Vice President and Secretary-General of CEAIE, Ms. Jiang Qin, Minister Counsellor of the Mission of China to ASEAN, Mr. Fang Jun, Deputy Director-General of Department of International Exchange and Cooperation of Ministry of Education of China delivered opening remarks. Approximately 350 participants from governments, vocational colleges and enterprises of China and ASEAN countries attended the event.

ACC Secretary-General Chen Dehai stated in his remarks that both ASEAN and China have entered a new era of development with continuous cooperation in various areas. In this process, more high quality professionals and technicians are urgently needed by both sides. Against this background, ACC has been devoting to foster a long-term mechanism of ASEAN-China vocational education cooperation and to encourage in-depth practical cooperation in various forms. To this end, in 2017, together with CEAIE and SEAMEO VOCTECH, ACC inaugurated the ASEAN-China Consortium for TVET Cooperation and released the Guiyang Consensus. In the past year, the Guiyang Consensus was implemented effectively with concerted efforts of all sides and the Consortium has served as an important platform. To share and discuss good practices of successful cooperative programmes will help boost mutual learning, set good examples of cooperation and guide the way forward, as well as further implement the China-ASEAN 100+100 Institutional Cooperation Flagship Programmes for win-win outcomes.

Mr. Wei Guonan, Dr. Gatot, Mr. Zhao Lingshan, Ms. Jiang Qin and Mr. Fang Jun commended ACC for its great efforts in promoting practical cooperation in vocational education sector. They stated that China and ASEAN countries enjoy geographical proximity, culture affinity and mutual benefits. Vocational education is one of the areas with richest outcomes in China-ASEAN cooperation. It is expected that both sides could take full advantage of this platform, further strengthen exchanges and cooperation and deepen mutual understanding, so as to achieve common advancement, share best practices and promote common development.

At the event, the first batch of 20 ASEAN-China Vocational Education Successful Cooperative Programmes was awarded. Guests of honour also had the chance to tour the exhibition area. Representatives of the 20 pairs of colleges were invited to share their experiences in cross-border education, training models, collaboration with industry, and faculty and student exchanges. Participants from China and ASEAN countries had good discussions on how to further promote institutional cooperation in such areas as faculty and student mobility, capacity building and jointly-run programmes.