On the morning of 23 August 2022, the Opening Ceremony of 2022 China-ASEAN Education Cooperation Week (2022 CAECW) was successfully held. The ASEAN-China Centre (ACC) led the delegation of ASEAN Member States (AMS) Embassy Education Officials to attend relevant events in Guiyang, including Ms. Pasupha Chinvarasopak, Minister Counsellor of Education and Science of the Royal Thai Embassy in China, Mr. Yaya Sutarya, Education and Culture Attaché of the Embassy of Indonesia in China, Mr. Chindavong Xaiyasin, Education and Culture Counsellor of the Embassy of Lao PDR in China, Mr. Tang Jui Piow, Head of Education Section of the Embassy of Singapore in China, Mr. Hoang Mai Dien, Head of Education Section of the Embassy of Viet Nam in China, Mr. Jason Choy Min Sheng, First Secretary and Executive Head of the Education Section of the Embassy of Malaysia in China, Ms. Thiraphorn Trivachirangkul, First Secretary of the Embassy of Royal Thai in China, Mr. Ty Lico, Second Secretary of the Embassy of Cambodia in China, Mr. Allen Carillo, Third Secretary of the Embassy of the Philippines in China. Ms. Li Yaying, Deputy Director of the Education, Culture and Tourism Division of ACC, attended the opening ceremony.

On the afternoon of 23 August, the Opening Ceremony of 2022 China-ASEAN International Forum on Special Education was successfully held with the theme of “Inclusive Development Creates Dream of Future”. Focusing on special education development, representatives shared teaching experience and explored future cooperation paths. Mr. Liu Baoli, Executive Secretary-General of the Organising Committee of CAECW, Dr. Suphat Champathong, Permanent Secretary of the Ministry of Education of Thailand, and Mr. Yaya Sutarya, Education and Culture Attaché of the Embassy of Indonesia in China, attended and addressed the opening ceremony.

Mr. Yaya Sutarya stated that the Ministry of Education, Culture, Research and Technology of Indonesia has been dedicated to providing better learning opportunities for students in need of special education. However, problems such as backward infrastructure and lack of professional teachers still exist. The 2022 Upskilling Training for Teachers and Principals of ASEAN Special Schools, co-organised by the Indonesian Embassy in China, ACC and the UNESCO Teacher Education Centre in July, was highly praised by AMS. The Indonesian Embassy in China is willing to further unleash cooperation potential with Chinese universities and institutions, and promote the vigorous development of special education in Indonesia by improving the level of management and teaching methodology of special school educators, so as to better meet the expectations of students in need.

On the morning of 24 August, the Forum of “Education Revitalising Countryside: University ‘Research’ and ‘Practice’ of ‘School-Local Farming Cooperation’ under the Background of ‘Belt and Road’” was successfully held. Experts carried on in-depth discussions on the key points, difficulties and hot issues in the process of poverty alleviation through education. Mr. Chindavong Xaiyasin, Education and Culture Counsellor of the Embassy of Lao PDR in China, Dr. Yang Wei, Deputy Director General of the Education Committee of Guizhou Provincial Party Committee, Ms. Gao Song, Director of the Project Centre of Guizhou Rural Revitalisation Administration, attended and addressed the forum.

Mr. Chindavong Xaiyasin stated that Lao PDR and China are linked by mountains and rivers. China has continuously supported the education development and human resource construction in Lao PDR, which made great contributions to Lao social and economic development. It is hoped that the two sides will continuously deepen cooperation and mutual learning, improve the living standards of the two peoples, and make due contributions to the development, peace, stability and prosperity of the region and the world at large.

On the morning of 24 August, the 2022 China-ASEAN Khe Sanh Forum with the purpose of “Youth Innovation Promotes the World Development” and the theme of “Ecology and Sustainable Development” was successfully held. The forum aims to provide opportunities for master and doctoral students to explore ways of contributing to sustainable development through cross-school, cross-region and cross-discipline exchanges. Dr. Song Bao’an, Academician of the Chinese Academy of Engineering and President of Guizhou University, and Mr. Ty Lico, Second Secretary of the Embassy of Cambodia in China, attended and addressed the forum. 

Mr. Ty Lico point out that the pattern of international education has evolved profoundly with changes in international relations. 2022 CAECW and the Khe Sanh Forum are of great significance to the innovation enthusiasm and social responsibility of the youth. The forum would enhance mutual understanding and trust between AMS and China and bring new content and vitality to the people-to-people exchanges.

The year 2022 marks the 15th anniversary of CAECW which has played a positive role in promoting high-order, high-quality and high-level exchanges and cooperation between AMS and China. During the past 15 years, CAECW has attracted over 30,000 experts and guests from 50 countries and regions, facilitated nearly 2,000 cooperation agreements, and held over 400 activities.