China and France hold joint forum on higher education

The Second Franco-Chinese Forum on Higher Education and Development was jointly held by China's Ministry of Education and France's Ministry of Higher Education, Research and Space on Friday in Chengdu, Sichuan province.

Chinese Minister of Education Huai Jinpeng and French Minister of Higher Education, Research and Space Philippe Baptiste attended and delivered keynote speeches at the forum.

Huai said the forum emerged in response to the needs of the times. Since the first forum, policy dialogue between the two nations in education has become more practical, the integrated cooperation framework encompassing education, science, technology, and talent has improved, and people-to-people exchanges have yielded more substantial results.

He noted that the second forum, held as a key side event of President Emmanuel Macron's visit to China, reflected both governments' shared will and proactive steps to advance high-level cooperation in higher education and deepen the comprehensive strategic partnership, guided by top-level consensus.

Huai pointed out that the new wave of scientific and technological revolution and industrial transformation is accelerating, posing unprecedented challenges to educational reform and scientific innovation. As major countries with global influence, China and France have the willingness and capability to cooperate fully and jointly contribute "Sino-French educational wisdom" to address common human challenges.

Huai expressed hope that educational and industrial sectors from both countries would create more favorable environments and innovative ecosystems for talent development, strengthen cooperative research in fundamental disciplines and jointly advance the launch of major scientific programs.

They should also further enhance exchanges and cooperation in philosophy and humanities and social sciences, and collaboratively innovate new models for cultivating top-notch talent, shape new paradigms for scientific research cooperation, and open a new chapter in people-to-people exchanges.

Baptiste said the academic and cultural exchanges between France and China have a long and profound history, forming the starting point and cornerstone of bilateral relations.

Currently, educational cooperation between the two countries rests on a solid foundation with frequent academic exchanges. Initiatives like "10,000 French students in China over three years" have effectively promoted study exchanges for French students in China, while cooperation in language teaching and two-way student mobility is building a bright future for the youth of both nations. Sharing common ideals, the two countries are joining hands on the basis of educational cooperation to address global challenges.

France is willing to explore with China the creation of exchange programs for future-oriented talent cultivation and promote balanced development in two-way student mobility, he said.

The forum brought together leaders, experts and scholars from over 100 universities in China and France. During the forum, universities from both sides reached 54 cooperative outcomes, covering areas including dual-degree joint programs, cooperative education programs, student exchange initiatives, joint research laboratories, and the establishment of overseas campuses.