As a founding member of the ASEM Bridging Declaration and a member of the Implementation Working Group, our Chief Executive, Dr Cloud Bai-Yun, is attending the third Working Group meeting (picture below) in Hangzhou, China, this week (25-27 March).

The Implementation Working Group plays a key role in ensuring progress of the agreed Action Plans of the Asia-Europe ASEM Education Process.

In particular, the Group monitors the implementation of the Declaration which will report to the ASEMME5, the Fifth ASEM Education Ministers' Meeting in Riga on 27-28 April 2015, including:

• the creation and progress of the Asian network of information centres (ANICs);

• guidelines, principles and good practice on the recognition of higher education qualifications between Asian and European regions; and

• the development of cross-border higher education in Asia and Europe.   

The Asia-Europe Meeting (ASEM) was created in 1996 as a platform for dialogue and cooperation between Europe and Asia. Every two years, ASEM heads of government meet at the ASEM Summit, held alternately in Europe and Asia, to set ASEM's priorities and to advance action-oriented cooperation for mutual benefit.

The main focus areas of the ASEM Education Process were identified by the Third Asia-Europe Meeting of Ministers for Education (ASEMME3) and affirmed by the Fourth Asia-Europe Meeting of Ministers for Education (ASEMME4) and include:

• quality assurance and recognition

• engaging business and industry in education

• balanced mobility

• lifelong learning, including technical and vocational education and training (TVET).

The main aim of the forthcoming ASEMME5 will be to strengthen cooperation and networking in common interest areas.