Curtain About to Go Up On The 2011 Euro-Asia Educational Cooperation Conference

The 2011 Euro-Asia Educational Cooperation Conference will take place between September 22th -24^th in Xi’an, Shaanxi Province, P. R. China. This conference is sponsored by the Chinese Ministry of Education with the government of Shaanxi province. It is organized by the Organizing Committee of Education Forum for Asia, Secretariat of Internal Coordination Mechanism of China for the University of Shanghai Cooperation Organization (SCO) in collaboration with the Executive Committee of the Euro-Asia Economic Forum.

Approved by State Council of China, the 2011 Euro-Asia Economic Forum, with the theme of Create New Euro-Asia Cooperation, Share Transitional Opportunity, will be convened in late September in Xi’an. This event is jointly hosted by SCO Secretariat, United Nations Development Program (UNDP), Secretariat of Eurasian Economic Community, the Ministry of Commerce of China, the Ministry of Education of China, the State General Administration of Customs, the National Energy Administration, the National Tourism Administration, the China Development Bank, and, finally, the People’s Government of Shaanxi Province. The People’s Government of Xi’an city will take charge of the organization. The Educational Cooperation Conference is a part of the whole event. There are also four parallel meetings taking place at the same time covering the themes of Finance, Energy, Customs Commissioner Level Talks and Tourism.

The year 2011 marks the 10^th anniversary of the founding of the Shanghai Cooperation Organization, and, additionally, China takes over the rotating presidency of SCO. With the support and guidance of many ministries and commissions, the 2011 Euro-Asia Economic Forum, will be an important part of celebrating this anniversary and will also be included into the general plan for the country’s diplomatic strategy. With a view of further strengthening the previous achievements, the 2011 Education Forum for Asia and Euro-Asia Educational Cooperation Conference will focus on the educational exchange and cooperation among SCO member states, including observer states and regions, and organize corresponding activities. The conference will also include the SCO University Presidents’ Conference with delegates invited from the forum initiators, former politicians, educational officials, ambassadors and counselors, representatives of international organizations, foundations, educators, experts as well as representatives from educational institutions, and business leaders. Topics to be discussed at this year’s conference will include the establishment of the University of Shanghai Cooperation Organization, talent training and employability, educational exchange and cooperation, and sustainable growth for private education.

In addition, the 6th Asian Students’ Photography Exhibition, with the theme STREAM, will be held during the conference period. This prestigious exhibition is jointly organized by the Education Forum for Asia, China Youth Daily and China University Media Union.