On 20 July 2023, H.E. Secretary-General Shi Zhongjun of the ASEAN-China Centre (ACC) paid a courtesy call on H.E. Union Minister Dr. Nyunt Phay for Ministry of Education of Myanmar in Nay Pyi Taw. Deputy Minister Dr. Zaw Myint and Permanent Secretary Dr. Soe Win for Ministry of Education of Myanmar were also present.

    Secretary-General Shi Zhongjun said that as an intergovernmental international organization co-established by 10 ASEAN Member States (AMS) and China, the ACC has always been committed to promoting practical cooperation and people-to-people exchanges between both sides, including education. Currently, both China and AMS are pursuing profound educational reforms. The ACC stands ready to redouble its efforts in continuing to facilitate, expand and deepen quality education cooperation and youth exchanges between Myanmar and China in alignment with the needs of both sides, thus adding more strength to long-term growth of Myanmar-China and ASEAN-China relations.

    Union Minister Nyunt Phay welcomed Secretary-General’s visit to Myanmar, and expressed his heartfelt appreciation to China for its long-term support to Myanmar in such programmes as student exchanges, language training and human resources development, which have played a vital role in promoting economic growth and social progress of Myanmar. He also stressed that strengthening international cooperation with other AMS and ASEAN dialogue partners such as China remains key to the quality development of education in Myanmar. The Ministry stands ready to work with the ACC to promote more pragmatic cooperation between Myanmar and China in terms of training teachers teaching Chinese as a foreign language, conducting joint research for commercialized results, rendering Myanmar students advanced studies in such disciplines as economics, sciences, information and communications technology (ICT), and artificial intelligence.