During the 2026 World Digital Education Conference (WDEC), Education Minister Huai Jinpeng held bilateral meetings with education leaders from Uzbekistan, Thailand, and the UK from May 10 to 11 to strengthen educational cooperation.

In his meeting with Uzbek Minister of Preschool and School Education Ezozkhon Karimova, Huai highlighted notable outcomes achieved in Sino-Uzbek educational cooperation. He expressed hope that the two sides would boost cooperation in digital education, Chinese language education, basic education, and talent cultivation. Karimova commended China’s practices in promoting digital education. She expressed her government’s willingness to encourage more Uzbek schools to establish partnerships with Chinese schools. Following the meeting, the two ministers signed a memorandum of understanding on cooperation in digital transformation in the fields of preschool, primary, and secondary education.

In his talk with Thai Minister of Education Prasert Jantararuangtong, Huai applauded the significant progress made in bilateral cooperation in smart education since the state visit to China by the King of Thailand last year. He added that China is willing to work with Thailand to promote the digitalization of vocational education and deepen cooperation in Chinese language teaching under the Sino-Thai University Language Partnership Program. Prasert spoke highly of the achievements in educational cooperation between Thailand and China. He expressed the willingness to work with China to implement the consensus reached between the two heads of state and to increase youth exchange.

In his meeting with UK Minister for Early Education Olivia Bailey, Huai congratulated the UK for becoming the first guest country of honor at the WDEC. He expressed hope that a ministerial consultation would be held in 2026 and that the education authorities of the two countries would push forward cooperation in vocational education as well as in youth innovation and entrepreneurship. He also welcomed more UK students to study in China. Bailey said that the UK attaches great importance to the Sino–UK educational partnership and promotes the safe, responsible, and regulated development of digital education. She said that the UK is willing to conduct results-oriented cooperation with China in digital education and create more opportunities for two-way youth exchanges.