On June 5, 2014, the Government of Shenzhen and UNESCO signed cooperative memorandum of understanding to advance both parties’ cooperation in education. Witnessed by the Secretary General of UNESCO Irina Bokava, the vice minister of the Ministry of Education, the President of UNESCO Assembly Hao Ping and the Mayor of Shenzhen City Xu Qin, the Deputy Mayor Wu Yihuan and the Education Assistant of UNESCO Secretary-General Tang Qian signed the Cooperative Memorandum of Understanding on behalf of both parties. According to the MOU, the Government of Shenzhen will further support work carried out by UNESCO, and UNESCO will support education of Shenzhen in two aspects: the first is that, both parties will cooperate and hold the international education forum; the second is that, UNESCO will establish a category-II education institute (center) in Shenzhen. 

On June 5, 2014, the Secretary of South University of Science and Technology of China had discussion with the Assistant Secretary General of UNESCO Doctor Tang Qian. Tang Qian said that, Shenzhen City would cooperate with UNESCO to carry out education and culture program, which was key route to improve internationalized education of Shenzhen City, was a key issue for UNESCO to promote education and benefited education in developing countries. Both parties’ cooperation shall include: Shenzhen supported UNESCO to establish a trust fund of higher education, hold international forum for higher education and establish category-II education institute. Work of the institute must match the mission of promoting world education of UNESCO, beyond territory of Shenzhen and boundary of China, benefit bordering countries, and have positive influences on forming and development of education and culture in Asia-Pacific Region. Tang Qian detailed procedures and agendas for establishing category-II education institute, verified and hoped that the category-II institute proposed by Shenzhen could contribute to entry opportunities and education quality improvement, and demonstrated soft strength of China as a large country which was making progress.

The Secretary Li Ming introduced the concept of establishing Category-II Institute by the municipal government of Shenzhen and South University of Science and Technology of China. In recent years, higher education has been developed rapidly, and there are many newly established universities at high level and internationalized development. Combined with economic conditions and advantageous conditions in Shenzhen, cooperating with UNESCO is an ideal strategy for realizing leap-forward development of higher education in Shenzhen, and serve education mission of UNESCO, the development of Shenzhen and China by holding forum, establishing forum and developing international service etc. The Secretary Li Ming said that, the SUSTC had been authorized by the government of Shenzhen City to undertake liaison with UNESCO, and a workgroup coordinating SUSTC and Shenzhen Bureau of Education to carry out work as soon as possible.

The Director of Shenzhen Bureau of Education Guo Yurong participated in the talk. She dais that, Shenzhen attached great importance to cooperating with UNESCO, the sound cooperation basis between Shenzhen and UNESCO was on the basis of “capital of design” and “model city for reading worldwide”, and Shenzhen would adhere to the realistic approach practice to carry out work .