Published:21.11.2023
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A representative delegation of the People's Republic of China is visiting Belarus. The visit program includes participation in the 1st Forum of Rectors of Higher Education Institutions of the Republic of Belarus and the People's Republic of China; signing of the Agreement on the establishment of the Chinese-Belarusian University Association; participation in breakout sessions; visiting universities and holding bilateral meetings.
The key direction is the development of digital literacy, the use of technology in organizing the educational process, distance learning and joint training programs.
A plenary meeting of the Forum took place today at the National Library of Belarus.
Welcoming speeches were spoken by: First Deputy Minister of Education of the Republic of Belarus Alexander Bakhanovich and Ambassador Extraordinary and Plenipotentiary of the People's Republic of China to the Republic of Belarus Mr. Xie Xiaoyong.
For more than thirty years, relations between the Republic of Belarus and the People's Republic of China have been developing dynamically and today have reached the level of a comprehensive strategic partnership. The foundation of these relations was laid by the Heads of the two states - the President of the Republic of Belarus Alexander Lukashenko and the Chairman of the People's Republic of China Mr. Xi Jinping. Thanks to their efforts, enormous potential has been created for the development of bilateral, mutually beneficial cooperation, including in the field of education.
To date, more than 560 direct cooperation agreements have been signed between educational institutions of the Republic of Belarus and the People's Republic of China, with more than a 100 of them signed over the past two years.
Within the framework of these agreements, bilateral scientific and educational projects, academic exchanges are being implemented, and joint structures are being created.
Currently, 10 joint educational and scientific structures (3 laboratories, 5 centers and 2 institutes) operate on the basis of educational institutions of the two countries.
Educational institutions of Belarus and China are implementing 40 joint educational programs. Another 20 joint educational programs and training of personnel of the highest scientific qualifications are in development. An important milestone in this direction is the implementation by the leading institutions of higher education of the two countries (Belarusian State University and Beijing University) from September 2022 of a joint undergraduate program in the specialty “Biotechnology”.
In order to develop the agreements reached by the leaders of our countries in March 2023 on the development of academic and scientific exchanges between educational institutions, it is planned to sign a Plan for the implementation of flagship projects and increasing cultural and humanitarian exchanges in the field of education between the Republic of Belarus and the People's Republic of China in the near future.
In addition, the possibility of creating in the near future of the joint educational programs in the specialties “Architecture” and “Architectural Design” (between the Belarusian National Technical University and Tongji University); “Information Technology” specialty (between the Belarusian State University of Informatics and Radio Electronics and the University of Science and Technology,China and Harbin Polytechnic University) as well as joint faculty of Chinese technologies at the Belarusian National Technical University with Northeastern University; joint institute of the Belarusian State Technological University and Dalian University of Technology.
On a mutual, systematic basis, cooperation is expanding in the field of organizing the study of the Chinese language in educational institutions of the Republic of Belarus and the Belarusian language in higher education institutions of the People's Republic of China.
There are currently six Confucius Institutes of Chinese Studies and eight Confucius Chinese Studies classes operating successfully in Belarus. In turn, they created a network of their branches (Confucius classrooms and centers for the study of Chinese language and culture) in more than 50 educational institutions.
Twelve centers for the study of Belarus have been opened at Chinese universities, and work is underway to create two more similar centers.
It is expected that in the near future the following areas of interaction will receive new impetus: the creation of innovative associations between educational institutions and high-tech enterprises of the two countries to conduct joint scientific research and development work with the commercialization of their results; training of scientific personnel in popular areas of bilateral cooperation; joining efforts to develop norms and standards for the digitalization of education, including using the experience of implementing the Internet+ initiative.
The Agreement on the establishment of the Chinese-Belarusian Association of Universities, signed today, contains a number of key positions. Thus, cooperation will include promoting bilateral and multilateral inter-university exchanges and interaction; academic exchange events, including joint seminars and forums.
We are also talking about joint training of highly qualified professional and interdisciplinary specialists; applying for research funding; cooperation in organizing joint programs.
Dalian Polytechnic University and Belarusian State University of Informatics and Radioelectronics will serve as the secretariats of the Association, be responsible for developing the Charter of the Association, invite qualified and suitable universities to join the Association, promote communication and relations between the participating universities of the two countries.
This Agreement comes into force from the moment it is signed by all participating universities and is valid for 5 years with the possibility of automatic renewal.
“The event that we are holding today is extremely important and can safely be called historical for the development of interuniversity cooperation - the first Forum of Rectors of the two countries and the creation of the Belarusian-Chinese University Association. We are confident that the established Association will contribute to the development of progressive proposals that will find real practical application and will contribute to further fruitful cooperation between our countries in the field of education,” says First Deputy Minister of Education Alexander Bakhanovich.
Tomorrow the Great Stone industrial park will welcome the delegates.
Press-center of the Ministry of Education.