On November 3rd, the Cooperation Forum on Education in China (Yunnan) and Laos, the Cooperation Forum on International Chinese Language Education in Northern Laos, and A Series of Activities on Confucius Institute Day, hosted by the Yunnan Provincial Department of Education and organized by the KUST-Souphanouvong University (SU) Confucius Institute, were held in Luang Prabang, Laos. This forum is a sub-forum of the South Asia & Southeast Asia Education Forum, with the theme of “Learning Chinese, Studying in Yunnan, and Perceiving China”. Li Zhigong, Consul General of the Consulate-General of China in Luang Prabang, Vixay Chansavang, President of SU in Laos, Yi Jianhong, Vice President of KUST, and Wang Yuan, Director of the Division of International Cooperation of Yunnan Provincial Department of Education attended the event. Leaders and teacher representatives from the Confucius Institute at the National University of Laos, Soochow University in Laos, and eight Chinese schools in northern Laos attended the opening ceremony of the forum. In addition, representatives from the Yunnan Provincial Department of Education and eight provincial universities attended the forum online.

At the opening ceremony, Li Zhigong said that in the Report to the 20th National Congress of the CPC, President Xi emphasized that education, science and technology, and talented people are the basic and strategic support for building a modern socialist country in all respects. Facing the prospect of building a socialist community with a shared future between China and Laos, Sino-Laos educational cooperation faces both opportunities and challenges. In addition to Chinese language teaching, it is necessary for us to better tell China’s stories, carry forward the spirit of friendship between China and Laos, quickly cultivate more and better talented people with proficient Chinese as well as local teachers, and make more Lao students become more useful talents who can master both Chinese and professional skills.

Yi Jianhong pointed out that education is the link to help realize the comprehensive interconnection of people from all countries, and a platform for people in the world to share innovative development experiences. KUST is willing to work with others to deepen educational exchanges and cooperation, strengthen teachers’ mutual visits and joint research, advance student exchanges and joint training, and welcome more outstanding young people from Laos to further their studies at KUST. Besides this, KUST not only actively cultivates international talents who know China, love China and benefit Laos, but also contributes to the educational cooperation between Yunnan and Laos.

Vixay Chansavang said that China and Laos are good neighbors connected by mountains and rivers. Under the backdrop of “the Belt and Road” Initiative and “the Sino-Laos Community with a Shared Future”, both “the Construction of Sino-Laos Economic Corridor” and “the Construction and Operation of the Sino-Laos Railway” have promoted the rapid economic and social development of Laos. The Confucius Institute jointly established by SU and KUST has made many new achievements and had many highlights in the field of Chinese education and the spread of Chinese culture. It is necessary to further strengthen educational cooperation and exchanges with China.

Wang Yuan stressed that all along, with a sincere heart, firm belief, and common desire, Yunnan Province hopes to bring more benefits to education in China and Laos. Yunnan Province will continue to deepen exchanges and cooperation with Laos in education, culture, and other fields, and support more Lao students to come to Yunnan for further studies. In addition, Yunnan Province will make more practical and effective outcomes witness the Sino-Laos friendship and serve as a model for Sino-Laos cooperation, thus making new contributions to the building of the Sino-Laos community with a shared future.

Heads from the Confucius Institute at the National University of Laos, the Soochow University in Laos, the Confucius Institute at Souphanouvong University, and eight schools in northern Laos (the Xinhua Chinese School of Luang Prabang, the China-Laos Friendship School of Oudomxay, the Liaobei Chinese School of Oudomxay, the Cheng Jue Ter Chinese School of Bokeo, the Chinese School, the Liew Kong Chinese School of Luang Namtha, the Liew Jung Chinese School, and the Hanlan Management College of Sayaboury）made speeches on their experiences in Chinese teaching, school achievements, and the vision of cooperation and development with China.

This event promoted educational cooperation and exchanges between China and Laos, and further achieved the developmental goal of international Chinese education in northern Laos. In the upcoming days, universities in Yunnan will also carry out the enrollment publicity of “studying in Yunnan” to provide a platform for young Lao students to learn about Yunnan, smooth the channels for them to study in Yunnan universities, and make positive contributions towards promoting the construction of a Sino-Laos community with a shared future.

Translated by: HUANG Xiaoyi, Faculty of Foreign Languages and Cultures

Edited by: CHEN Chunli, Faculty of Foreign Languages and Cultures (English)

Source: School of International Education

Issued by: Division of International Cooperation (English)

Edited by: KUST News Center (Chinese)