SCO Education Ministers Convene for 9th Meeting in Xinjiang: Advancing Collaborative Initiatives
The 9th meeting of the Ministers of Education from the Shanghai Cooperation Organization (SCO) member states convened on May 13 in Urumqi, located in the Xinjiang Uygur autonomous region of China. This meeting featured addresses from Ma Xingrui, a member of the Communist Party Central Committee Political Bureau and the Party Secretary of Xinjiang, as well as Huai Jinpeng, the Minister of Education of China.
Address by Ma Xingrui
During his address, Ma extended a welcome to the delegates, emphasizing the crucial role of the SCO in promoting educational cooperation among member countries with diverse social systems and development strategies. He highlighted Xinjiang’s commitment to education as instrumental in driving modernization in the region, and its efforts to become a cultural, scientific, and educational center within the Silk Road Economic Belt.
Remarks by Huai Jinpeng
Huai Jinpeng underscored the significance of the SCO Astana Declaration, which reinforces the collective agreement among member states aimed at enhancing educational collaboration. He detailed notable accomplishments within China’s education sector, describing it as the world’s largest quality education system, designed to support socio-economic development and facilitate digital transformation.
Meeting Details
The meeting was chaired by Vice Minister of Education Wu Yan, during which representatives from Belarus, Iran, Kazakhstan, Kyrgyzstan, Pakistan, Russia, Tajikistan, and Uzbekistan also delivered remarks. The agenda included a review and approval of several documents, such as the Minutes from the Second Meeting of the SCO University Coordination Committee, the SCO University Digital Education Development Plan, and the Urumqi Initiative.
Future Meetings and Developments
Belarus was designated as the host for the upcoming meeting, with key developments including the signing of the Meeting Minutes and the establishment of the SCO National Digital Education Alliance and the China-SCO Doctoral Education Innovation Center.
Commitment to Sustainable Development
In the lead-up to this meeting, there was a reaffirmation of China’s commitment to supporting sustainable development within the SCO University framework. This commitment aligns with resolutions from the 8th meeting, during which a roadmap was approved to enhance digital education through resource sharing and collaborative research.
Proposals for Collaboration
Proposals were made for the SCO Digital Education Alliance to foster collaboration between universities and enterprises, focusing on the sharing of educational resources, technological cooperation, and policy standardization. A three-phase implementation plan is scheduled to run from 2025 to 2033 to achieve these goals.
Source: http://en.xjtu.edu.cn/2025-05/16/c_1096054.htm
