Implementing General Secretary Xi Jinping’s Remarks for Global Education and Enhancing Overseas Studies in China

On May 29, 2023, during the 5th study session of the Political Bureau of the 20th CPC Central Committee, General Secretary Xi Jinping emphasized improving strategies and tactics for educational openness, coordinating the two major tasks of “bringing in” and “going global”, effectively utilizing global resources and enhancing China’s influence in global education. He called for active participation in global educational governance, promoting the “Study in China” brand, and strengthening China’s voice to strengthen global influence and discourse power of Chinese education. In this April, the Beijing Municipal Education Commission held a meeting to highlight the strategic significance of attracting foreign students to Beijing’s universities. They emphasized the need to serve the overall construction of a strong educational nation and national diplomacy, and put forward specific requirements. CUEB has actively implemented General Secretary Xi’s vision, aligning with Beijing’s strategy, and advancing open education initiative, especially through the “Belt and Road Initiate” to write a new chapter in the high-quality development of open education.

On the first anniversary of the General Secretary Xi’s speech on May 29, 2023, CUEB Party Secretary Wang Wenju led a team to Guangxi, officially launching the “Silk Road Voyage” recruitment campaign for international students. During the visit, Wang and his team conducted in-depth investigations in border universities, thoroughly examining their “bringing in” and “going global” educational concepts, gaining insights into their educational strategies and experiences in serving local social and economic development, opening education to ASEAN (Association of Southeast Asian Nations) countries, and transforming discipline and professional construction. They explored cooperation pathways between universities in the capital and border regions, aiming to expand CUEB’s international cooperation, enhance the “Study at CUEB” brand, and foster a high-quality development community.

Expanding Educational Cooperation with ASEAN

During the visit to Guilin University of Aerospace Technology (GUAT), Wang Wenju and GUAT Party Secretary Han Junfeng jointly signed a Strategic Cooperation Framework Agreement to Co-establish the China-ASEAN Aerospace Engineers Academy between CUEB and GUAT. They discussed educational philosophies and distinctive personnel cultivation. Both parties agreed to collaborate on joint training of international students, faculty teams, and sharing student practice bases. The goal is to establish an educational cooperation channel between the capital and Guangxi, targeting at ASEAN countries for mutually development.

During the visit, Wang Wenju’s team toured the school of Automotive Engineering, observed a demonstration of a student-developed formula racing car, and explored the Aerospace Quality Cultivation Center to investigate the school’s Aerospace Day activities and aerospace spirit education initiatives. Additionally, they toured the China-ASEAN Aerospace Engineers Academy to learn about the latest research achievements in areas such as spacecraft and drones, as well as the academy’s valuable experiences in training ASEAN international students. Accompanying the visit were Wu Jinzhao, Deputy Party Secretary and President of GUAT; Zhang Liguo, Member of Standing Committee of the Party Committee and Vice President; Yang Yongchang, Member of Standing Committee of the Party Committee and the Assistant Principal; Wang Zhongguang, Director of the International Office and Acting Vice Dean of the College of International Education; and Zhang Yichun, Dean of the Management College.

During the visit to Guangxi Science & Technology Normal University, Wang Wenju and the school’s Party Secretary Yang Jie signed a strategic cooperation framework agreement. They agreed to jointly establish the CUEB-ASEAN (Guangxi) International Student Community. Wang gained an in-depth understanding of the university’s reform and development philosophy of “preserving the legacy of teacher training and innovating with technology”. He praised its initiatives to develop a smart agriculture college and cultivate application-oriented professionals, focusing on the local characteristics of “one sugarcane (main sugar-producing area), one stone (calcium carbonate industry), and one wood (eucalyptus resources)” in the central Guangxi region. The delegation visited the school’s “Three-Wide Education” system (which means all educational workers strive to foster students in all processes and in all respects) demonstration center, SAIC-GM-Wuling Automotive Industry College, Modern Sugar Industry Development Institute, and the Autonomous Region’s exemplary teacher education base. Wang Wenju emphasized the mutual support and collaboration to enhance development capabilities, solidify personnel cultivation, and serve the economic and social development of the capital and Guangxi. He also noted that the collaboration should contribute to the construction of the China-ASEAN community with a shared future. The visit was attended by Wei Youhuan, Guangxi Science & Technology Normal University’s Deputy Secretary of the Party Committee and President; Song Qijun, Party Committee member and Vice President; Tan Weili, Director of the Party Office; Chen Lianqi, Director of the Office of International Cooperation and Exchange and Dean of the International Education College, and other officials.

During the visit to Guangxi Minzu Normal University (GMNU), Wang Wenju and GMNU Party Secretary Cao Ying signed a strategic cooperation framework agreement, reaching consensus on comprehensive development and co-construction. Cao Ying accompanied Wang Wenju and his delegation on a tour of the school’s history garden, introducing the development history of the university over 86 years. They also visited the Guangxi Traditional Sports Training Base for Ethnic Minorities, where they observed students training in sports such as pearl ball (a traditional Chinese game which is similar to basketball), ball made of silk strips (athletes use pack baskets to catch balls made of silk strips), and kickball, gaining a deep understanding of the university’s professional strengths in minority sports education. The delegation also toured the Zuo River Basin Ethnic Culture Video Museum and College of Art (Southwest Guangxi High-End Furniture Design Industry College). Wang praised the university’s emphasis on “faculty training, ethnic characteristics, and border development”, as well as its efforts in building frontier academic research teams and training ASEAN international students. He expressed CUEB’s willingness to collaborate on cultivating international students, guiding research guidance, and supplying personnel. The visit was attended by Ma Ning, Deputy Secretary of the Party Committee and President of GMNU; Wei Yongheng, Deputy Secretary of the Party Committee; Wei Maobin, a member of the Party Committee and Vice President; Zhao Qin, Director of the Party and Government Office; Deng Dafei, Director of Office of Research; and Deng Xianyi, Director of the Office of International Cooperation and Exchanges and Dean of the International Education College.

During his visit, Wang Wenju, signed one co-construction agreement for the China-ASEAN Engineers Academy and two inter-university strategic cooperation framework agreements. He also reached agreements with the three universities on establishing “Green Channel” cooperation for recruiting international students to study in China, and forming plans for a strategic cooperation platform connecting the ASEAN region with northern and southern China. The discussions were efficient and fruitful, laying a foundation for future collaboration.

CUEB will actively implement the outcomes of this visit, promoting high-quality development of international student programs, and contributing to the “Study in Beijing” brand. This aligns with General Secretary Xi’s vision of balancing “bringing in” and “going global”, reinforcing CUEB’s role in these initiatives.

The visit was attended by Zhang Tong, Director of the Office of Party and Governance Affairs; Liu Wenchuan, Director of the Office of International Cooperation and Exchanges and Dean of the School of International Education; and Zhao Lingfei, Deputy Director of the Office of International Cooperation and Exchanges and Deputy Dean of the School of International Education.