China-ASEAN Education Exchange Week launch first ever overseas forum

LNCCI | Mr. Allan Yang

Vientiane Capital, Lao PDR (18 December 2025) - The China-ASEAN Education Exchange Week (CAECW) launched its forum overseas for the first time in its history. The CAECW forum was grandly inaugurated in Vientiane Capital, Lao PDR. This marks the first time the CAECW has established a sub-event in ASEAN since its inception in 2008, signifying a new phase of regional integration characterized by more proactive, in-depth, and pragmatic educational cooperation between China and ASEAN.

The event was jointly organized by the CAECW Secretariat and the Lao National Chamber of Commerce and Industry (LNCCI), and co-hosted by the Ministry of Education and Sports of Laos (MOES), the Vocational Education Development Institute (VEDI), Wuhan City Polytechnic (WCP), Lao National Chamber of Commerce and Industry in Chongqing (LNCCIC), the Lanmekong-China Education and Training Promotion Alliance (LCETPA), the Asia Pacific Industry-Education Development Alliance (APIEDA), ASIN ASEAN (Chongqing), and the Lan-Mekong Industry-Education (Chongqing) Service Center (LMIES). It was strongly supported by the ASEAN Department of the Ministry of Foreign Affairs of Laos, the China Embassy in Laos, the Technical Vocational Education Department (TVED) of the Ministry of Education and Sports of Laos, the Employment Department of the Ministry of Labor and Social Welfare of Laos, the Indonesia Embassy in Laos and among others.

Additionally, the event featured a diverse group of guests representing various sectors and countries, including Lao governmental delegates from Ministry of Finance, Ministry of Agriculture, Forestry and Environment, Ministry of Public Works and Transport, Ministry of Industry and Commerce, Lao Youth Union, and the China-Laos Cooperation Committee. Representatives from the financial and banking sector, including Asian Development Bank (ADB), the German International Cooperation Agency (GIZ), the Industrial and Commercial Bank of China (ICBC) Vientiane Branch, and the Agricultural Promotion Bank of Laos (APB), were also present.

Delegates from LNCCI and its member enterprises, Lao-China General Chamber of Commerce and its Chinese enterprises, Lao Youth Entrepreneurs Association, Lao-China Youth Cooperation and Development Association, National University of Laos, Vientiane High School, Guiting International School, and representatives from well-known media such as the Lao Economic Daily, Vientiane News, Vientiane Times, as well as various television and radio stations, along with educators from numerous Lao universities and secondary schools, participated in the event. In total, over 200 participants attended both online and offline.

In his opening speech, Khamsen Sisavong, Vice Chairman of LNCCI, noted that the establishment of the Lao sub-event for this exchange week marks a historic milestone, reflecting a shift from "being invited to participate in China" to "ASEAN taking the initiative to embrace." This will promote a more localized, flexible, and pragmatic approach to advancing comprehensive educational cooperation for regional integration.

"The China-ASEAN Education Exchange Week, jointly organized by China Ministry of Foreign Affairs, Ministry of Education, and the People's Government of Guizhou Province, has been successfully held in Guizhou for 18 consecutive years. Today, the first CAECW sub-venue event in Laos under the Exchange Week, is marking a new chapter in the history of regional education cooperation under the China-ASEAN framework! The establishment of this Laos sub-venue carries profound significance and mission. It is not only a crucial step in deepening regional open cooperation for the Exchange Week but also a vital initiative to localize and enhance educational and cultural exchanges with Laos and ASEAN countries. Together, we will write a new chapter in building the "Five Homes" of China-ASEAN!" stated Mr Chen Wenyi, Director of the CAECW Secretariat.

Kang Peng, Deputy Director General of the Lao-China Cooperation Committee Office; Yang Aimin, Deputy Party Committee Secretary of WCP; Donglun Allan Yang, Chairman of LCETPA, also represented LNCCIC, APIEDA, ASIN ASEAN, and LMIES; Dr. Bounseng KHAMMONTY, Dean of VEDI; Viengsavang THIPPHAVONG, Vice Dean of the IICE; Phimmasone THONGPHARYSACK, Senior Technical Advisor of GIZ; Dr. Azmi bin Ahmad, Deputy Director General of the DSD of Ministry of Human Resources in Malaysia; Isabel Fernandes De Lima, Director General of INDMO, Timor Leste; Dr. Majah Ravago, Director of SEAMEO INNOTECH, and Zin Mar Myo, Deputy Director of the SSID of Ministry of Rural Cooperatives and Development in Myanmar, respectively shared their congratulations on the Laos sub forum of the exchange week, introduced the development of integrated education in each country, and shared future cooperation plans. During the event, the unveiling launching ceremony of the "Jingchu Workshop" was also held.

In closing, the Vice Chairman (Vice Ministerial) of LNCCI delivered an impassioned summary and congratulated the forum on its resounding success. The closing of this forum also marks the beginning of long-term cooperation in the future. We look forward to the continuation of sub venue activities in ASEAN countries during the Exchange Week, and LNCCI and its partners will continue to provide full support as always! We have captured this important moment of deepening and expanding regional education cooperation. Most participants expressed their willingness to actively join relevant cooperation, leverage their respective advantages, and deeply implement the spirit of cooperation in the China ASEAN Education Exchange Week, in order to realize the vision of a China-ASEAN community with a shared future as soon as possible.