On this day, February 24, 2014, the Third High-Level Consultation on Education Collaboration between the Provinces and Territories of Canada and the Ministry of Education, People’s Republic of China, took place in Edmonton, Alberta, Canada.
The third consultation brought together the Council of Ministers of Education, Canada (CMEC), and senior officials from the People’s Republic of China to discuss increasing education collaboration and exchange between Canada’s provinces and territories and the People’s Republic of China, while building on achievements to date. The third consultation was co-chaired by the Honourable Jeff Johnson, Chair of CMEC and Minister of Education for Alberta, and the Honourable Li Weihong, Vice Minister of Education for the People’s Republic of China.
There was recognition among participants of the importance of fostering understanding and respect between peoples, cultures, and societies in an increasingly interconnected world. Participants also agreed that opportunities to be immersed in different cultures contribute to a student’s educational experience, and that greater education collaboration and exchange between the provinces and territories of Canada and the People’s Republic of China can have a positive influence on their economic and social relationships.
They also acknowledged the success of the many existing relationships between the People’s Republic of China and individual Canadian provinces and territories in elementary, secondary, and postsecondary education, as well as the many existing relationships between their educational institutions.
In the context of the growing recognition of the importance of education for social and economic well-being, participants reviewed challenges in their education systems. They shared their perspectives on issues such as:
Participants also identified options for further collaboration and exchange, including the following:
Participants recognized and acknowledged that, while CMEC is a collective in which provincial and territorial ministers of education can collaborate on issues related to education, decisions on the implementation of particular actions are made by each individual province and territory.
In their closing remarks to the Third High-Level Consultation on Education Collaboration between the Provinces and Territories of Canada and the Ministry of Education, People’s Republic of China, the co-chairs thanked all participants and expressed their ongoing support for enhanced education collaboration and exchange between Canada’s provinces and territories and the People’s Republic of China.
This summary of discussions was written in English, French, and Mandarin and signed this 24th day of February, 2014, in Edmonton, Alberta, Canada, the text being equally valid in all three languages.
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_________________________________________ Li Weihong Vice Minister of Education People's Republic of China |