China-Laos Education Diplomacy: Higher Education

Laos and China have close geographical relations.Since the normalization of relations between Laos and China,especially with the implementation of China’s "Belt and Road" initiative,exchanges and cooperation between Laos and China have continued to increase.Under such a background,Laos and China Cooperation in the field of higher education has become an important manifestation of the continuous deepening of diplomatic relations between China and Laos.Strengthening higher education cooperation between Laos and China is not only an important form of China’s promotion of Laos’ education development,but also one of the important ways for China to carry out education diplomacy with Laos.This article examines the cooperation between Laos and China in the field of higher education from the perspective of China’s education diplomacy with Laos.China’s educational diplomacy with Laos in the field of higher education is based on the growing political and economic relations between China and Laos,the escalation of friendly relations,and the mutual needs of China and Laos.Promoting the development of China-Laos friendly cooperative relations and realizing the development of higher education in China and Laos are the main driving forces behind the rise of China’s education diplomacy with Laos.The implementation of China’s education diplomacy in Laos is mainly analyzed from the aspects of education diplomacy mechanism and education diplomacy.In terms of educational diplomacy,China’s higher education diplomacy to Laos is implemented in cooperation with the government and universities,forming a system with clear responsibilities and an orderly hierarchy: the head of state and government is the highest-level decision-making and executive body,the centralgovernment’s Ministry of Foreign Affairs and The Ministry of Education,the foreign affairs department of the local government and the competent education department are the middle-level decision-making and executive bodies,and Chinese universities are the grassroots executive bodies.In the form of China’s implementation of higher education diplomacy with Laos,there are more educational aid diplomacy projects and relatively fewer educational cooperation diplomacy projects,reflecting the gap in the level of higher education and resources between China and Laos.The achievements China has made in education diplomacy in the field of higher education in Laos mainly include promoting the development of higher education and economy in Laos,promoting the internationalization of China’s higher education,enhancing China’s national image and soft power,and promoting the development of China-Laos relations.In terms of aspects,it shows that China’s higher education diplomacy with Laos not only promotes China’s interests,but also realizes the interests of Laos.It has the characteristics of win-win cooperation,equality and mutual benefit.Of course,there are some deficiencies in China’s education diplomacy to Laos,mainly from the forms and subjects of Chinese universities’ participation in Laos’ higher education diplomacy,the content of Laos education diplomacy,and the analysis of the four aspects of Laos education diplomacy.Corresponding suggestions are made for these four aspects,including the establishment of a new model of education diplomacy,improvement of China’s strategy of education diplomacy with Laos,establishment of an education diplomacy brand,and stimulation of Chinese social vitality to participate fully in education cooperation.Overall,China’s diplomacy with Laos in the field of higher education is still in its infancy.Although there are some shortcomings,it maintains a good momentum of development and has broad development prospects.