2012 Education Forum for Asia Annual Conference has been a complete success which was held from September 21-23, 2012 in Chengdu City with the support of Boao Forum for Asia, Ministry of Education of China, Sichuan Provincial People’s Government. It was hosted by Chinese National Commission for UNESCO, National Center for Education and Development Research, Chengdu Municipal Government，Sichuan Bureau of Expo Affairs，Education Department of Sichuan Province.

Being one of the most important activities of the 13th Western China International Fair, the forum invited over 400 delegates from nearly 30 countries and regions around Asia and the world. H.E. Mr. Fidel V. Ramos, former chairman of the board of directors of BFA, initiator of Education Forum for Asia and former president of the Philippines; H.E. Mr. Kirti Nidhi Bista, former prime minister of Nepal and initiator of Education Forum for Asia; Mr. Abhimanyu Singh, UNESCO director and representative in Beijing, ministerial level officials from Malaysia, India, Sri Lanka, Pakistan, New Zealand together with Mr. Wu Jingping member of CPC Sichuan Provincial Party Committee Standing Committee, Minister of Propaganda; Mr. Liu Xincheng, member of National People's Congress Standing Committee, vice chairman of the central committee of the China; Mr. Du Yue secretary general of the National Commission of the People’s Republic of China for UNESCO; Mr. Zhang Li director of National Center for Education Development and Research and Mr. Fu Yonglin deputy mayor of Chengdu People's Government delivered speeches on the opening plenary.

During our most recent forum, under the theme “Asian Education: Towards a More Prosperous and Better Future”, we were able to host speakers and seminars on an array of different educational sectors. The specific topics of our sub-forums were: the balanced development of basic education, international education exchanges and cooperation within vocational education and employment, the sustainable development of Western China’s education system, developing the quality of teachers through life-long learning, and building ties between India and China’s management education programs. The experts and organizers provided very rich speeches and programs, which were able to engage the audience and allow all the guests to participate in the discussions. The warm and welcoming atmosphere allowed for a fruitful experience for all the delegates and groups that participated. Below is a list of the main outcomes from the forum:

First, Education Forum for Asia and China Yellow River Television signed a letter of intent for cooperation on a “Confucius Institute and Media Education Forum”;
Second, Education Forum for Asia and the Central South University of Forestry Science and Technology signed a “Development of Green Education Research Institute for Central South University Framework Agreement”;
Third, Education Forum for Asia and the Low Carbon Research and Education Center issued a proposal for the establishment of the “China Green Educational Society”;
Fourth, Sichuan University and Education Forum for Asia signed a scholarship donation agreement;
Fifth, the India-China Economic and Cultural Association advanced their initiative, bringing together India and China, the world’s two most populous countries, into an open dialogue in the field of management science for the first time in history;
Sixth, the Teacher Education Forum convened for the first time on the Education Forum for Asia platform, signifying a very meaningful beginning. This will henceforth become an annual event and a mechanism for great progress in the future.
Seventh, in 2013, Education Forum for Asia will hold the Chinese Traditional Culture Forum in Qufu, Shandong Province. Our hope is that there will be broad participations from Overseas Chinese involved in education from all around the world.

The Forum also had a number of other fruitful activities, including: “The 2012 Asian Scholarship Donation Award Ceremony”, “The 2012 Seventh Asian Students Photography Exhibition Awards”, and the “Chengdu Primary and Secondary School Paintings Exhibition”. There were also visits to Sichuan University affiliated primary and secondary schools, and a trip to the Giant Panda Base in Chengdu. Both of these visits, and all of the activities of the forum, gave the attendees a true picture of what a great, booming city Chengdu is, and how much they have to offer the world. Both were examples of the awesome development of Sichuan and demonstrated true win-win cooperation.

Over 100 journalists attended the 2012 Education Forum for Asia from 50 different media outlets providing coverage throughout China. The event was praised by the entire media as a complete success! Education Forum for Asia is the most prestigious, high-end educational platform in the Asia-Pacific region and we work tirelessly to support the development of education for people from all walks of life, promoting the complementary advantages of collaborating across borders and sharing resources and knowledge. It is our honor to be working together with so many diverse groups toward the progressive realization of common prosperity and balanced development throughout Asia.