Promoting Educational Opening Up and Cooperation for the Welfare of People in Countries across the Lancang-Mekong River Basin

The Lancang-Mekong Educational Cooperation (Pu’er) Forum 2019 was held at Pu’er University on June 16. Wei Xing, secretary of CPC Pu’er Municipal Committee, delivered a keynote speech titled “Promoting Educational Opening Up and Cooperation for the Welfare of Peoples in Countries across the Lancang-Mekong River Basin”.

Speaking at the forum, Wei Xing said the countries across the Lancang-Mekong River Basin were connected by water, which was also the source of their booming cooperative relations. Since the launch of the Lancang-Mekong Cooperation Mechanism in 2016, the leaders of these countries have comprehensively facilitated cooperation in a number of areas, thereby generating a range of pragmatic results. Educational exchanges and cooperation, one of the highlights of this cooperation, have also brought real benefits to the peoples of all countries in this region.

In addition, Wei Xing termed culture a bridge that enables communication. He said education was a focus of the Lancang-Mekong Cooperation Mechanism. He went on to say that Pu’er City attached great importance to boosting cultural exchanges and cooperation among the countries across the basin, especially in the fields of education, medicine, agriculture, science, and technology. He said partnerships have been well established in fundamental, vocational, and higher education sectors, besides cooperation in cross-border telemedicine services. A number of cooperative projects have been conducted effectively and hailed by the locals for the real benefits that these projects have brought to them, he added.

Moreover, Wei Xing gave a number of propositions for further promoting educational exchanges and cooperation among countries across the basin. “We should further consolidate our foundations for educational development and ensure that the fruits of such development reach all the peoples in a fairer manner. There is also a need to build a large platform for international educational exchanges and cooperation to further promote educational opening up and cooperation. We should spare no effort in promoting the transformation and application of scientific research findings and optimizing education’s role in serving socioeconomic development. In this way, we can augment our efforts towards jointly telling the stories of Lancang-Mekong region and of friendships among the local countries, while better spreading the region’s voice and showcasing its good image,” he explained.

Furthermore, Wei Xing hoped to further integrate Lancang-Mekong cooperation in the Belt and Road framework and provide greater services for the initiative. “We will work with universities in countries across the basin to build this Lancang-Mekong Educational Cooperation Forum into a permanent platform for cooperation and exchanges as well as a well-known brand with international influence. By doing so, we shall further promote exchanges among schools, governments, and peoples across the basin; boost sustainable development of regional education; and benefit the peoples of all countries in this region.”