China.org.cn | January 10, 2025
Shou Xiaoli:
The last question.
Phoenix TV:
We're particularly concerned about the openness in education. The National Conference on Education proposed that we should further promote openness in education, coordinating both "bringing in" and "going global." What key measures will we take in the next step to advance high-standard opening-up in education through "bringing in" and "going global?" Thank you.
Wu Yan:
Since the 18th CPC National Congress, China's international influence in education has increased significantly, as shown by three encouraging indicators. First, China's international educational partnerships have expanded, with educational cooperation and exchanges reaching countries worldwide. Eighty-five countries have included Chinese in their national education systems, and the number of international Chinese learners and users now exceeds 200 million. We have built over 30 "Luban Workshops " in cooperation with other countries, which have been highly popular. Second, the appeal of Chinese education has grown. International students from 195 countries and regions study in China, with the proportion of degree-seeking students increasing to more than 60%. Third, the contribution of Chinese education has expanded. We cooperate with UNESCO and many international organizations worldwide. For example, the UNESCO International Institute for STEM Education will be established in Shanghai, making it the first UNESCO Category 1 Institute outside Europe and the United States. Additionally, at the recent China-Africa summit, President Xi Jinping announced that 10 Luban Workshops would be established in Africa. China has also cooperated with African countries and UNESCO to hold dialogues on education and heritage protection, contributing to the joint promotion of the 2030 international education goals.
Moving forward, we will focus on two major initiatives. The first major task is to unswervingly pursue our "bringing in" strategy. First, at the institutional level, we will effectively use world-class educational resources and innovative elements. We will bring in the best foreign universities, especially those specializing in science and engineering, to encourage high-standard cooperative learning institutions and programs. Second, in terms of international students, we will strengthen the brand and capacity building of "study in China," especially at "Double First-Class" universities (namely world-class universities and those with first-class disciplines). This will help attract outstanding overseas talent to study and exchange in China and enhance our ability to cultivate and gather important global talent. Third, for youth exchanges, we will launch 800 key international summer school projects over the next three years, invite 50,000 American youths to exchange programs in China over the next five years, invite 10,000 French youths to exchange programs in China over the next three years, and double the number of European youths in exchange programs in China. These initiatives will enable young people from China and around the world to have in-depth interactions and further strengthen the foundation for people-to-people exchanges.
The second major task is to steadily "go global." We will further enhance China's international appeal, influence and power to shape in education. First, in terms of higher education, we will promote the international expansion of higher education, maintain our policy of "supporting study abroad, encouraging return, ensuring free movement, and promoting making contributions,” and encourage students to study abroad. We will continue to improve the national comprehensive platform for overseas students, promote overseas programs in fields where China has comparative advantages, especially engineering education and medical education, and help relevant academic standards gain international recognition. Second, in terms of vocational education, we will encourage vocational education to go overseas. We will ensure the success of the World Vocational and Technical Education Development Conference, the World Vocational College Skills Competition and the World Vocational and Technical Education Exhibition. We will set up the first world vocational and technical education award, establish the world vocational and technical education development alliance, promote high-quality vocational education cooperation under the Belt and Road Initiative, and support Chinese vocational colleges in conducting overseas education in an orderly manner. Third, in terms of digital education, we will promote China's digital education to go overseas steadily and ensure the success of the World Digital Education Conference and the Global MOOC and Online Education Conference. We will develop and strengthen the World Digital Education Alliance, publish the Global Digital Education Development Index and demonstration cases, and promote the international version of the smart education public service platform. This will enable China's high-quality MOOC resources to reach global audiences and establish China's digital education as a leading voice in the next round of global educational development.
In addition, Chinese universities have led the launch of two international science programs: the "Deep-time Digital Earth" program, with the participation of scientists from more than 100 countries, and the "Ocean Negative Carbon Emissions" program, with the participation of scientists from over 30 countries. These two major scientific programs represent significant contributions to humanity and will provide Chinese solutions and strength to address common global challenges. We will continue to advance the opening-up of education with full confidence. Thank you.
Huai Jinpeng:
I would like to add a few words. It is a rare opportunity to communicate with the media today. The National Conference on Education issued a mobilization order to build a strong country in education by 2035. This is our grand goal and direction for the next 11 years. Realizing Chinese modernization brings historical opportunities for building a strong country in education. However, we recognize that many difficulties and challenges remain in this endeavor. It requires both systematic leaps and qualitative changes, demanding continued study and research. Two points are indisputable. First, we must unswervingly promote high-quality educational development to serve the construction of a great modern socialist country. Second, we must unswervingly open up to the outside world and promote educational cooperation between China and countries worldwide. People-to-people exchanges and educational cooperation are essential to China's opening-up and national development.
We are ready to work alongside other countries worldwide to contribute to education cooperation, innovation capacity building and cultural exchanges. I would also like to thank our media friends. I wish you all happy holidays in advance and hope you will continue to show interest in and support for education, offering ideas and constructive criticism for educational development. Thank you all!
Shou Xiaoli:
Thank you, Mr. Huai, to all the speakers and to all our media friends for participating. That's all for today's press conference. Goodbye, everyone!
Translated and edited by Zhang Rui, Yuan Fang, Yang Chuanli, Wang Yanfang, Li Huiru, Zhang Tingting, Huang Shan, Yang Xi, David Ball, and Jay Birbeck. In case of any discrepancy between the English and Chinese texts, the Chinese version is deemed to prevail.