The Ministry of Education (MOE) held a press conference on Sept. 20 to present China’s achievements in educational cooperation and exchange with other countries as well as in educational reforms since 2012. Xu Mei, director-general of the MOE Information Office and spokesperson for the ministry, moderated the event. MOE has placed greater emphasis on developing systematic, holistic, and synergistic relationships with overseas partners, according to Liu Jin, director-general of MOE’s Department of International Cooperation and Exchange.
Over the last decade, China reached out to more partners. Between 2012 and 2022, China conducted educational cooperation and exchange with 181 countries, built Confucius Institutes in 159 countries and territories, and signed agreements on mutual recognition of academic degrees with 58 countries and territories.
MOE was also more actively involved in promoting economic growth. Such initiatives included supporting the development of a demonstration zone for international educational cooperation in the Yangtze River Delta, the promotion of educational innovation in the Hainan Free Trade Port, and the construction of an international education hub within the Greater Bay Area of Guangdong, Hong Kong, and Macao.
MOE also encouraged top Chinese universities to collaborate internationally through the formation of university consortia, membership in international academic organizations, and the pursuit of interdisciplinary research and development projects with their foreign counterparts. Between 2018 and 2022, Chinese universities held conferences that hosted over 14,000 academics from over 70 different countries, conducted over 2,300 collaborative research projects, and trained over 4,000 graduate students.
MOE released the “National Employment Service Platform for Returning Graduates,” which aims to help new graduates find work at home after finishing their overseas studies. Between 2012 and 2022, more than 80% of Chinese students who studied abroad during this period decided to return home.
High-level cultural and educational exchange gathered momentum during this period. MOE held 37 high-profile international cultural exchange events, signed over 300 cooperation agreements with international partners, and achieved nearly 3,000 tangible cooperation results.
China’s partnership with UNESCO also began a new chapter through China’s further participation in international programs in education, science, and culture. For example, the Chinese government actively participated in and supported major UNESCO initiatives, including the Education 2030 Sustainable Development Agenda. China also successfully organized the World Congress on Vocational Education and the World Conference on Digital Education, building a global platform for high-end educational cooperation and contributing to global educational governance.
