China has reaffirmed its strong support for UNESCO's educational mission through sustained investments in global equity and cross-border collaboration, according to Yang Jin, former Permanent Delegate of China to UNESCO. The commitment underscores Beijing's growing role in shaping international education frameworks while addressing regional disparities.
"From rural classrooms to African universities, we're building bridges through knowledge-sharing," Yang stated, highlighting three key priorities: eliminating educational inequality through digital infrastructure projects, expanding vocational training programs across 15 African countries, and establishing 47 joint research centers with UNESCO member states since 2018.
Analysts note these efforts align with Sustainable Development Goal 4 (SDG4) while creating new opportunities for academic partnerships. Over 120,000 students from developing countries have received STEM scholarships through China-UNESCO programs since 2016, with a focus on climate science and artificial intelligence applications.
The collaboration comes as UNESCO prepares its 2025 Global Education Monitoring Report, which will assess pandemic recovery strategies. China's emphasis on hybrid learning models and teacher training initiatives in Southeast Asia has drawn particular attention from policymakers.
