Canada's Ministers of Education Hold Historic Meeting with the People's Republic of China
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
WINNIPEG, September 24, 2010 — 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 (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).
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. For more information, visit us at www.cmec.ca.
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