The inaugural meeting for the South and Southeast Asian University Network (S&SE ASIAN UN) and the 2nd South and Southeast Asian University Presidents Forum were held on Dec 10 in Kunming, capital of Southwest China's Yunnan province.

More than 240 presidents and representatives of 87 universities from 15 countries attended the meeting.

The South and Southeast Asian University Network is launched on Dec 10 in Kunming, capital of Southwest China's Yunnan province. [Photo/ynu.edu.cn]

At the previous preparatory meeting, articles of the S&SE ASIAN UN were reviewed and approved, and a consensus was reached: The secretariat of S&SE ASIAN UN will be set up at Yunnan University; the first secretary-general will be Lin Wenxun, president of Yunnan University, and Zhang Li, vice-president of Yunnan University, will serve as deputy secretary-general.

Yang Lin, Party secretary of Yunnan University, presided over the meeting and delivered a speech. At the meeting, 103 universities became founding members of the S&SE ASIAN UN.

Yang Lin, Party secretary of Yunnan University, delivers a speech. [Photo/ynu.edu.cn]

Yang said Yunnan University will rely on collaboration between its member universities to build the S&SE ASIAN UN into a platform for exchanges and pragmatic cooperation among all member universities, and to effectively promote the development of the regional higher education community.

Lin announced the Kunming declaration of the S&SE ASIAN UN at the inaugural meeting. The declaration stated that the S&SE ASIAN UN will help China and South and Southeast Asian countries develop in a more open, inclusive, and balanced direction, and commit to promoting regional economic and social development.

A signing ceremony between Yunnan University and other universities takes place. [Photo/ynu.edu.cn]

On behalf of Yunnan University, Lin signed cooperation agreements with the University of Colombo in Sri Lanka, the International University of Business Agriculture and Technology in Bangladesh, and the University of Peshawar in Pakistan.

The Cambodia Studies Center at Yunnan University built by Yunnan University and the Royal Academy of Cambodia was also unveiled at the meeting. It will become an important channel for strengthening mutual understanding and promoting exchange and cooperation between countries.

At the 2nd South and Southeast Asian University Presidents Forum, the speakers agreed that the S&SE ASIAN UN can make good use of its members' strengths to bridge the gap between each other. It is hoped that all parties will use it as a platform to strengthen communication and deepen inter-university cooperation.

The 2nd South and Southeast Asian University Presidents Forum takes place on Dec 10. [Photo/ynu.edu.cn]