Subject: Invitation to the Conference on Education Cooperation in Asia 2004
    (22-25 August, Beijing, China)

It is our great pleasure to cordially invite you to the Education Forum for Asia – Conference on Education Cooperation in Asia 2004. This event, co-organized by Boao Forum for Asia (BFA), the United Nations Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organization (UNESCO) and the China Scholarship Council, will be held from 22 to 25 August 2004, in Beijing, China.

This conference is organized as the result of a ‘Meeting of Initiators’ for an Education Forum for Asia organized by the above-mentioned three co-sponsors and hosted by the Beijing Municipal Government in December 2003 in Beijing.  

H.E. Mr. Fidel Ramos, former President of the Philippines, H.E. Mr. Kirti Nidhi Bista, former Prime Minister of Nepal, H.E. Mr. Lee Soo Sung, former Premier of the Republic of Korea, H.E. Ms. Jenny Shipley, former Prime Minister of New Zealand, H.E. Mr. Sergey Terechshenko, former Prime Minister of Kazakhstan, Mr. Sheldon Shaeffer, Director, UNESCO Bangkok, the Asia-Pacific Regional Bureau for Education, and Mr. Vitor Ng, Chairman of the Macao Foundation, participated in the “Meeting of Initiators” and fully supported the initiative calling for stronger cooperation on education among Asian countries and the establishment of a regular forum as a mechanism for such dialogue.

The upcoming Conference aims at strengthening cooperation on various aspects of education in Asia. Participants from not only Asia, but other parts of the world as well, will have the opportunity for extensive exchange to share expertise and experience on issues common to educational development in Asia. The anticipated number of participants will be approximately 300.

In addition to the Conference on Education Cooperation in Asia 2004, three other education-related events will be organized concurrently in Beijing during the Conference period, namely 1) The 15th International Meeting of University Administrators; 2) Beijing Academic Forum, and 3) Beijing International Education Fair.  You are also welcome to take part in these events. Together these four events will share a joint opening ceremony, a joint welcome dinner, evening events and other activities, bringing together a diverse and dynamic assembly of education specialists to further exchange and share ideas and expertise.

Please find attached the tentative agenda of the Conference, registration form, and some background information for your consideration.

We would be much obliged if you could kindly confirm your participation in the aforementioned Conference by 1 July, 2004. Your contribution, e.g. presentation, paper etc. would also be welcome and highly appreciated. Please inform us in advance if you would like to give a presentation in one of the sessions.

We look forward to your participation in the Conference on Education Cooperation in Asia 2004, and would like to express our gratitude for your continued support to the development of education in Asia.

                             
Sincerely,

 Click here to visite AC2004 website.