The 18th Jiangsu International Exchange and Cooperation Conference for Primary and Secondary School Principals, organized by the Jiangsu Provincial Department of Education and the People's Government of Xuzhou, took place in Xuzhou from Nov 16 to 17.

This year marked the largest gathering in the history of the conference, with nearly 300 participants, including representatives from educational authorities, educational organizations, and school principals from over 10 countries such as the United States, Australia, the United Kingdom, and Canada, as well as regions like Hong Kong and Macau.

During the conference, 40 sister-school partnerships between Chinese and overseas primary and secondary schools were established.

Jiang Yong, director-general of the Jiangsu Provincial Department of Education, said the event is aimed at constructing a multilateral platform for the exchange of ideas and mutual development between Chinese and international school principals, as well as promoting their cooperation in areas such as personnel and cultural exchanges.

Since its inception in 2005, the conference has facilitated the establishment of about 2,000 sister-school partnerships between Jiangsu schools and overseas school. Six regional education administrations, including the Suzhou bureau of education with Canada's Peel District School Board and the Wuxi bureau of education with its counterpart of Bycirklen in Denmark, have formed comprehensive partnerships.

These collaborations have allowed over 50,000 students and teachers to engage in two-way visits and enabled the development of specialized cooperative programs.

Jiang Yong, director-general of the Jiangsu Provincial Department of Education, addresses the conference via video link. [Photo/jyt.jiangsu.gov.cn]