With the approval of the China State Council, the Education Forum for Asia 2005 Annual Conference was held at the Nirvana Resort Beijing on October 14-16, 2005.  The event was co-organized by Boao Forum for Asia, the China Scholarship Council, and UNESCO, hosted by the People’s Government of Haidian District, and sponsored by Beijing Daoxianghu Investment Development Co. Ltd.  The conference received extensive support from the Ministry of Education and was an outstanding success.

What follows is a description of the conference proceedings.

I.  Summary of Conference Events

Over 800 participants from 26 Asian countries as well as from Poland, Germany, Hungary, and the United States came together in Beijing China to take part in the conference.  Former heads of state and forum initiators former President of the Philippines, H.E. Mr. Fidel V. Ramos and former Premier of Korea, H.E. Mr. Lee Soo Sung were in attendance, as well as Forum Initiator Mr. Vitor Ng.  Also taking part in the conference was former Deputy Premier of Poland Prof. Dr. Grzegorz W. Kolodko.  Other distinguished guest included Ministers and Vice Ministers of Education from Armenia, Bangladesh, the Democratic People’s Republic of Korea, Kazakhstan, the Kyrgyz Republic, Laos, Malaysia, Myanmar, the Philippines, Tajikistan, Cambodia, India, Indonesia, and Mongolia, as well as education officials from Hong Kong SAR and Macao, embassy officials living in China, presidents of foreign universities, education experts, and representatives from educational institutions from around the world.

China State Councilor Ms. Chen Zhili welcomed guests and gave the keynote address at the Opening Ceremony held at the Great Hall of the People.  In her speech, she expressed the Chinese government’s commitment to maintaining friendly and mutually beneficial relationships with its neighbors, while increasing cooperation with other Asian countries.  Chen Zhili stressed that education is a realm in which we must work closely together so that we may all benefit.  In order to best contribute to the creation of a more peaceful and stable Asia, China remains committed to promoting the healthy development of education.

Based on the principles of open-mindedness and mutual benefit, the People’s Government of Haidian District hosted The First Haidian Education Fair and co-hosted, with the Ministry of Education Research Center, the China International Vocational Education Forum.  Both events were held during the Education Forum for Asia 2005 Annual Conference and were a great success, putting the ideas of open-mindedness and mutual benefit into practice.

Throughout the conference period, several groups of distinguished guests took part visits to Beijing Agricultural University, the Renmin University Secondary School, Zhongguancun #1 Primary School Tian Xui Branch, and Haidian Safety Education Exhibition Hall.  Delegates also went on sightseeing excursions to the CCTV Tower, The Great Wall, the Ming Tombs, and other famous Beijing attractions.  Also, at the conference site, educational learning equipment production companies and a publishing house displayed their products.  Conference participants were also given an art performance by primary and middle school students, which included singing, dancing, instrumental performances, painting, digital art, and sculpture.  Haidian District Government also coordinated an outstanding art performance as part of the First Haidian Education Fair.  At the Closing Ceremony, a delegate from Myanmar performed a dance piece, and one from China gave a vocal performance adding to the energetic atmosphere of the event.  All of these events were not only representative of the development of education in China, but also enriched the lives of conference participants and enlivened the atmosphere of the conference.

Over 70 media organizations and nearly 100 journalists covered the Education Forum for Asia 2005 Annual Conference and related events.

II.  Steps Taken Towards Promoting Cooperation and Exchange in Asian Education on Various Levels

A significant part of this year’s Annual Conference was the Meeting of Ministers.  With Ministers and Vice Ministers from 17 countries and regions in attendance, the meeting was a tremendous success.  Through insightful speeches and presentations, the delegates shared the reform and development measures that they are taking in their own countries and regions, as well as their experiences in the world of education development.  The result was further communication and understanding between countries in the Asia region, discussion of issues in education that will have relevance for generations, and the formulation of education development strategies for the new century.  Chinese Minister of Education Mr. Zhou Ji gave a speech at the meeting and later held a reception for the other Ministers and Vice Ministers of Education from various countries including the Democratic People’s Republic of Korea and Laos. 

This year’s Boao Consultative Meeting on Education Cooperation for Asia was honored by the attendance of international exchange officials from the Ministries of Education of 24 countries and regions within in Asia, as well as education and culture officials from embassies in China and experts specializing in Asian education issues.  There was a significantly greater number of delegates in attendance this year as compared to the 2004 meeting, which is representative of the collective desire among Ministries of Education for greater exchange and cooperation.  Participants not only made extensive inquiries into the topics for discussion put forth by the forum, but also offered high praise to forum initiators and related organizations and expressed their hope that the forum will continue to thrive and reach its full potential as a builder of bridges of international exchange and cooperation in education circles.  Mr. Cao Guoxing, Director-General of the Department of International Cooperation and Exchange of the Chinese Ministry of Education chaired this Consultative Meeting.

The Chinese Ministry of Education sponsored the China International Vocational Education Forum.  Former Vice Minister of Education for China, Mr. Wang Mingda was invited to speak at the Opening Ceremony, and the forum was honored by the attendance of experts and scholars from outside the Asia region including representatives from the United States and Hungary.  All participants agreed that the forum was the first such event to bring together so many vocational education experts from different countries and regions.  Everyone involved believed that the forum constructed an effective platform for cooperation and development in vocational education and was an opportunity to share ideas on how to provide students with high quality educational resources.

The Forum on Cross-cultural Management and Training in a Global Economy was co-hosted by Beijing University of Technology and Humboldt University Berlin Germany.  Distinguished guests included the Vice President of the Communications Coordination Committee for the United Nations, a former Board Member of the Society for Intercultural Education, Training, and Research, the General Deputy Director of the Chinese Academy of Social Sciences, the Deputy Director of the Central Compilation and Translation Bureau, and a Harvard professor.  Speeches during the forum centered on issues of the global economy and cultural exchange in the face of massive economic globalization and the need for further cultural management and training.  Participants also offered experience and put forth development models for China and other developing countries so they may take advantage of opportunities and better face challenges in a climate of globalization.

The forum on Strategic Development of Small and Medium-sized Higher Education Institutions was hosted by the Business College of Beijing Union University.  In attendance were Prof. Zhou Yuanqing, former President of the Ministry of Education’s China Higher Education Institute, Prof. Liu Zhentian, Evaluation Center of the Ministry of National Education, as well as leaders from small and medium-sized institutions of higher learning and university administrators.  Participants initiated extensive exchange and exploration into how to inject innovation into the development of Chinese higher education, best take advantage of opportunities based on the rules of the market, improve the quality of school administration, and highlight the distinguishing features of running a school.

Basic Education is not just the focus of China, but also that of every Asian country along the path of education development.  With the support of the Ministry of Education Art Education Commission, Beijing Lanpu Education Consulting Co., Ltd. hosted the Asia Art Education Forum, bringing together experts and scholars from China to discuss how to protect and carry forth Chinese culture and art in an increasingly multi-cultural world.  Participants also closely examined the significant effects that making art education a fundamental part of the basic education system can have on the character development of students.

The Modern Education Technology and Teaching Development Forum was hosted by the China Educational Instrument & Equipment Corporation, who invited the Executive Director of Worlddidac, the Deputy Director of the Basic Education Department of the Ministry of Education China, as well as distinguished representatives from the China Educational Instrument Research Institute, China Educational Instrument & Equipment Corporation, and the America Education Equipment & Culture Articles Company.  Participants initiated carefully explored the demand for, purchase of, and investment in education technology and equipment products.

Running concurrently with the Education Forum for Asia 2005 Annual Conference was the First Haidian Education Fair.  The event proceeded from the high-level strategy of the Beijing Haidian District Government as a way to carefully consider the development of education in Haidian, which is closely connected to the overall unity and prosperity of Haidian District.  Following of the heels of the Zhongguancun IT Festival and the Haidian Culture Fair, the Haidian Education Fair was yet another fine and important event in Haidian.  Through a series of events including The Forum on Innovative Municipal Education, Haidian Education Art Performance, University Campus Open House, a lecture series by renowned scholars, and the ongoing Community Education Program, the fair made strides towards better displaying, publicizing, promoting, and advancing Haidian education.  The development of education is an integral part of the development of society and the economy, and will continue to play a fundamental and trailblazing role in Haidian’s ongoing drive toward modernization.

On the evening of October 16, 2005 the Education Forum for Asia 2005 Annual Conference and the First Haidian Education Fair came to a close in a ceremony at the Nirvana Resort Beijing.

III.  Results Achieved

1.  The Boao Consultative Meeting on Education Cooperation  for Asia, as a mechanism for interaction between the governments of various countries, took another significant step forward in its drive to promote cooperation and exchange.  Officials from international exchange department of Ministries of Education and embassy officials in charge of education and culture from 25 Asian countries and regions took part in this year’s meeting.  Participants from different education departments came together to explore common problems in an effort to create greater prospects for the future.  As compared to last year’s meeting, the number of participants greatly increased, the levels of government represented were greater, which is representative of the collective desire for increased cooperation.  It is also symbolic of everyone’s approval, concern, and support for this education forum.  With Mr. Cao Guoxing, Director-General of the Ministry of Education’s Department of International Cooperation and Exchange, chairing this year’s meeting, participants not only discussed the 5 primary topics decided upon at last year’s meeting, but also put forth topics for next year’s meeting including the education development strategies of representative countries, basic education, vocational education, increased exchange among students in institutions of higher learning, the sharing of scientific research, and internationally recognized academic records and degrees.

2.  Again at this year’s Annual Conference, the Asia Foreign Study Scholarship was a significant topic of discussion, attracting great support from all conference participants.  As one of the results of the 2004 Annual Conference, the scholarship program has already entered its first successful stage.  This year, 14 students from 11 Asian countries received scholarships as part of the program allowing them to come to China to study.  With Macao University of Science and Technology, Hunan Normal University, China Education Satellite Network, Global Scholarship Alliance, and the Hungarian Chamber of Commerce becoming new donors, offering a total of 76 new scholarship seats, the Asia Foreign Study Scholarship Program has now expanded beyond Asia into both Europe and North America.  The program most certainly has an extremely prosperous future.

3.  Education Forum for Asia and the Beijing Aviation Transportation Training Center signed an agreement to create the International Aviation Nursing Training Program.  In view of ever more intense competition in the aviation transportation industry, this program was cultivated to help produce higher quality individuals to meet market demands.  It also promotes the overall development of the aviation transportation industry.  The development of this program is indicative of the direction in which Education Forum for Asia is moving, as it becomes a significant creator and promoter of pragmatic educational programs.

4.  Through this year’s conference, Education Forum for Asia has established a number of new partnerships with organizations and institutions that care deeply about the development of education in Asia.  In addition, the forum has consistently sought ways to identify and explore issues that face all Asian countries as they develop.  The forum also signed agreements and memorandums of understanding to establish the Coalition of Small and Medium-sized Secondary Institutions, the Asia Art Education Forum, and the Cross-cultural Management and Training Center.  These accomplishments will work to promote the development of Education Forum for Asia in the future.

In short, in the mere two years that have passed since the creation of the forum, Education Forum for Asia has already become a high level platform for exchange, inquiry, and cooperation among education officials, experts, and scholars in the Asia Pacific region.  It has already laid a solid foundation for achieving its original intention of “Building Bridges for Asian Education.”  Education Forum for Asia, using a broader outlook and more feasible measures, has dedicated itself to moving forward toward stronger and more effective exchange and cooperation in Asia on issues of education.  Though hard work and enthusiasm, it ventures to improve the overall standard of Asian education, raise the quality of the Asian populations, and promote more prosperous and equitable development in Asia.

Organizing Committee of Education Forum for Asia

November 8, 2005