The 2026 China–Central Asia Industry–Academia–Research Cooperation Conference convened in Urumqi on June 25. Vice Minister of Education Ren Youqun delivered a video address.

Ren said that since the inaugural China–Central Asia Education Ministers’ Meeting, all parties have established a close cooperation mechanism, expanded exchanges and collaboration in top-level talent development, and jointly built cutting-edge digital education platforms, enriching people-to-people exchanges and boosting regional educational cooperation.

He also noted that efforts will be made in the future to advance high-quality talent cultivation, deepen digital and AI-enabled education, and expand people-to-people exchanges through multiple channels, bringing China–Central Asia educational cooperation to a higher level.

Held under the theme “Digital Intelligence Empowering Education, Silk Road Connecting the Future”, the conference brought together representatives from 274 higher education institutions across 15 countries.