The China ASEAN Education Exchange Week, now in its eighth year, kicked off on Aug5, 2015. It was organized by the Ministry of Foreign Affairs, Ministry of Education and the Guizhou government.

The event was titled Learning from Each Other for the Wellbeing of the Future. China and ASEAN countries are close neighbors, sharing similar cultures and people-to-people ties. As part of multilateral initiatives, the event has built a bridge for youth to learn more about each other, and facilitated cultural exchanges understanding and friendship between the two parties. In addition, the event offers an opportunity for Guizhou to learn from the best educational practices. It will further its ties with ASEAN countries in terms of higher education, vocational training, private education and cultural exchange, as it moves to share in the character of ASEAN culture.

As the China-ASEAN dialogical relationship enters its 25th year, China is now discussing with ASEAN countries the designation of 2016 as the China-ASEAN Education Cooperation Year. By then the event will play a bigger role in bringing youth closer and lifting educational development. It also will increase people-to-people exchanges and consolidate a social foundation for the friendship between China and ASEAN countries, as they work around the 21st century Maritime Silk Road initiative.