Huai Jinpeng Joins 43rd UNESCO General Policy Debate

On November 1, 2025, local time, Minister of Education Huai Jinpeng represented China at the 43rd session of the UNESCO General Conference held in Samarkand, Uzbekistan. His address during the general policy debate emphasized the evolving challenges faced by contemporary society and highlighted the pivotal role of education in addressing these issues.

Huai Jinpeng articulated that the transformations in education are essential for meeting developmental demands. He stressed that promoting mutual understanding and improving overall well-being necessitate a coordinated global response. In this context, he referenced the global development initiative, global security initiative, global civilization initiative, and global governance initiative, all proposed by President Xi Jinping, which serve as critical frameworks for educational reform.

To contribute to this transformation, Huai Jinpeng offered three key suggestions based on China's domestic practices and future aspirations. First, he called for a unified effort to advance educational reform that adapts to the demands of the intelligent era, emphasizing the importance of nurturing learner quality and creating a robust educational ecosystem.

Furthermore, he expressed China's readiness to collaborate with UNESCO in organizing conferences that focus on the intersection of artificial intelligence and education, thus facilitating the global transition toward digital and intelligent education.

Second, in the pursuit of sustained economic growth, Huai Jinpeng highlighted the need for collaborative exploration of policy communication mechanisms that link education and societal development. He emphasized the importance of open cooperation and expressed China's interest in sharing its experiences and strategies for integrating education with economic development.

Lastly, in response to the evolving landscape of global governance, he underscored the necessity of fostering a more equitable and inclusive international educational cooperation community. He reaffirmed China's commitment to enhancing South-South cooperation and showed willingness to partner with UNESCO to organize the World Education Development Conference, aiming to further educational reform.

Throughout his address, Huai Jinpeng reiterated that China has consistently supported UNESCO and actively engaged with its initiatives. He expressed optimism about UNESCO's potential to build consensus, deepen reforms, and enhance operational efficiency, particularly in revitalizing global leadership in education.

This revitalization is seen as a crucial contribution to the advancement of human civilization and aligns with China's broader goals regarding education and international collaboration.

The insights shared by Huai Jinpeng at the UNESCO General Conference denote a significant commitment by China to play a lead role in shaping the future of global education through cooperative efforts.

As discussions continue at the UNESCO conference, the emphasis remains on collective action and shared goals to navigate the challenges presented by an increasingly interconnected world.