The Forum for World Education. [Photo provided to China Daily]

The forum began with keynote speeches by Princess Laurentien and Jack Ma, in which they discussed the developments and challenges of 21st -century education.

Ma said innovation in education is crucial to keep pace with today's fast-changing world. "In the current digital era, two things are increasingly important: not only should we give everyone the chance to receive an education but, first and foremost, it's about offering students the right type of education and skillset that can prepare them to cope with the challenges the future poses."

Jack Ma, Founder of Jack Ma Foundation. [Photo provided to China Daily]

Ma also called for better recognition of school personnel, from headmasters to teachers. "Education is about the future. We should give teachers the best recognition, and equip headmasters with the proper training and resources to identify and retain the most capable educators. A good teacher can help 200 students in their lifetime at least. Being a teacher was my first job, and I hope my last job is working together with you, to do something to improve education globally."

Princess Laurentien of the Netherlands focused on recognizing children's innovation to include their opinions in designing the education system as "a good teaching method should not only help kids but also supports adults."