CANADA'S MINISTERS OF EDUCATION HOLD HISTORIC MEETING WITH THE PEOPLE'S<br>REPUBLIC OF CHINA

WINNIPEG, Sept. 24 /CNW/ - The Council of Ministers of Education, Canada (CMEC), Canada's long-standing intergovernmental body, held an unprecedented meeting with senior representatives of the People's Republic of China (PRC).

The first high-level consultation on education collaboration between ministers of education of the provinces and territories of Canada and the education leaders of the People's Republic of China was arranged to facilitate greater cooperation on education, and marks the next step in the continuing development of the relationship between them.

PRC Vice Minister of Education, the Honourable Li Weihong, and her delegation were welcomed warmly by provincial and territorial ministers of education at the historic Fort Garry Hotel in downtown Winnipeg, after having attended a reception the previous evening.

"CMEC is honoured to have been able to join today with representatives of the People's Republic of China to share thoughts on ways to improve our collaboration in education," said the Honourable Diane McGifford, Chair of CMEC and Manitoba's Minister of Advanced Education and Literacy and Minister Responsible for International Education. "CMEC is committed to strengthening Canada's international education profile, and education ministers are pleased to be building our relationship with China to the benefit of all parties."

During the meeting, participants exchanged views on a variety of education-related issues, from postsecondary mobility and quality assurance, to teacher training, to approaches to the provision of education services in remote areas. There was general agreement that collaboration and exchange between the parties at all stages of the lifelong learning process ― elementary, secondary, and postsecondary ― were of great value.

While in Winnipeg, parties discussed the trip to China in October 2010 by a number of Canadian education administrators and elementary/secondary school principals. The parties also discussed a proposed visit to China in 2011 by 100 Canadian secondary-school students. The two initiatives were announced by Chinese President Hu Jintao during His Excellency's visit to Canada in June.

Ministers of Education were honoured to receive an invitation from Vice Minister Li to visit the People's Republic of China in 2011 for the second high-level consultation on education collaboration.

Minister McGifford offered to lead the delegation in her capacity as Chair of CMEC. "On behalf of my colleagues, I want to thank the Vice Minister for her kind invitation," said the minister. "I believe this inaugural meeting has been of great value to provinces and territories and look forward to future engagement between our ministries and departments of education." It was agreed that details of the 2011 meeting would be confirmed in the coming months through mutual consultation.

A public summary of the outcomes of the meeting was signed by Vice Minister Li and Minister McGifford at the conclusion of the meeting.

About CMEC

Founded in 1967, CMEC is the collective voice of Canada's ministers of education. It provides leadership in education at the pan-Canadian and international levels and contributes to the fulfillment of the constitutional jurisdiction for education conferred on the provinces and territories. For more information, visit us at www.cmec.ca.

Summary of Discussions from the
First High-Level Consultation on Education Collaboration
between the Provinces and Territories of Canada and
the Ministry of Education of the People's Republic of China

On this day, September 24, 2010, in Winnipeg, Canada, the First High-Level Consultation on Education Collaboration between the Provinces and Territories of Canada and the Ministry of Education of the People's Republic of China took place.
Ministers responsible for education in the provinces and territories of Canada and education leaders from the People's Republic of China held fruitful discussions on a variety of education issues of mutual interest, including:

• Trends and strategies in education
• Postsecondary-education quality assurance, program accreditation, and mobility
• Postsecondary research collaboration and innovation
• Teacher training
• Provision of education services in remote areas
• Potential areas for future education-related collaboration
• Teaching of the Chinese language

During the meeting, the parties expressed their interest in increasing collaboration and exchange between Chinese higher-education institutions and those administered by the provinces and territories of Canada to support the development of talent among individuals, strengthen the role of universities in building innovative societies, promote the exchange of university faculty and students, and encourage research cooperation and innovation.

The parties see value in the exchanges between students and scholars and the need to further advance the mutual recognition of academic credits.

The parties see the value of exchanges in elementary and secondary education and discussed collaboration on training programs for principals and teachers in elementary and secondary schools. Both sides wish to encourage the establishment of friendly links between elementary and secondary schools, with a view to enhancing exchanges and friendship between the younger generations of both countries.

The parties wish to encourage education cooperation and exchanges among provinces and territories of both countries based on their different needs.

While in Winnipeg, both sides discussed the trip to China in October 2010 by a number of Canadian education administrators and elementary/secondary school principals. Both sides also discussed a proposed visit to China in 2011 by 100 Canadian secondary-school students. The two initiatives were announced by Chinese President Hu Jintao during his Excellency's visit to Canada in June.

The Honourable Li Weihong, Vice Minister of Education for China, extended an invitation to provincial and territorial ministers to visit China. The Honourable Diane McGifford, Chair of CMEC, received the invitation on behalf of her colleague ministers and offered to lead the visit.

The parties agreed that the inaugural meeting had been of great value to them and that future engagement would be pursued.

________________________________________

Li Weihong
Vice Minister
Ministry of Education
People’s Republic of China (PRC)

________________________________________

Diane McGifford
Chair
Council of Ministers of Education, Canada (CMEC)

For further information:

Colin Bailey
Director, Communications
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