Education leads way to regional cooperation

From the first China-ASEAN Education Cooperation Week in 2008 on "Working Together for a New China-ASEAN Partnership" to the this year's 9th CAECW, the developments reflect the organizing committee's efforts to build the spirit of cooperation and partnership between China and Southeast Asian nations, working around the "Triple Helix of cooperation", which begins with learning to accept and know one another, developing a sense of belonging, and seeking ways and means to contribute and share experiences to foster sustainable regional development and peace through education.

The efforts reflect the truth embedded in a Confucius saying: "Education breeds confidence. Confidence breeds hope. Hope breeds peace." Crafting as well as designing the best education is an endless process. Aristotle said: "The roots of education are bitter, but the fruit is sweet," and "Educating the mind without educating the heart is no education at all." John Dewey took the education philosophy further saying: "Education is not preparation for life; education is life itself."

In 2014, the Southeast Asian ministers of education, with their axiom of "leading through learning," held a congress titled "Southeast Asia in Transition: Rethinking Education, Science and Culture for Regional Integration". The congress emphasized regional cooperation and networking in education to break the barriers to equity, equality and access to education; discussed strategies needed to achieve inclusive education in order to build an economic and social safety net; and proposed seven priority areas to sustain the future of education.