Riga hosts meeting of Asian, European education ministers

Education and senior officials from more than 50 Asian and European countries gathered in Riga on Monday for the 5th ASEM Education Ministers' Meeting (ASEMME5).

Focusing on the meeting's overreaching theme "ASEM Education Collaboration for Results", the ministers from both regions explored ways how to employ education for better skills and jobs, as well as how to use the full potential of new learning technologies.

Latvian President Andris Berzins opened the forum by stressing that youth unemployment, which currently is a growing problem in many countries, is caused by misguided education and social policies.

In order to improve its education system, Latvia has been learning from European countries like Germany, Austria and Switzerland, taking over their successful dual vocational training system, which provides students with both theoretical knowledge and practical skills, the Latvian president said.

Latvian Education and Science Minister Marite Seile said that eduction promotes understanding and tolerance among people with different worldviews.

Direct and firsthand cooperation between Asian and European countries enriches experience, increases skills, opens up opportunities and facilitates productive contacts, the Latvian education and science minister said.

"This cooperation helps promote tolerance in society, better understanding of one another and experience-based confidence. I believe that this is one of the most important processes for successful coexistence in our global world," Seile said.

China's Vice Minister of Education, Li Weihong, who was also attending the meeting, said in his speech that the meeting of ministers of education was one of the most important mechanisms of cooperation in the framework of the Asia-Europe meeting.

It is an important platform for Asia-Europe cooperation on education. The Chinese Ministry of Education has always attached great importance to the ASEM platform and China's engagement in pragmatic cooperation on both multilateral and bilateral level, he said.

The meeting of the Asian and European education ministers is taking place in Riga this Monday and Tuesday. Endit