The China Education Expo 2024 (CEE) wrapped up in Beijing on Saturday, offering international education providers a platform to connect with Chinese students and institutions.
The two-day event attracted more than 380 colleges and institutions from 38 countries and regions, including France, Finland, and the United States.
As a guest country, France introduced 35 institutions of higher learning to the expo, including comprehensive universities, engineering colleges, business schools and institutes of technology, many of which are world-renowned.
"We are the top business school in Europe. Our strengths lie in finance, consulting and interdisciplinary expertise," said Han Xiaotong, an admissions officer for HEC Paris in the Asia Pacific region.
Beginning on October 26, the expo was held in Guangzhou, Shanghai and Chengdu and saw a steady increase in the number of participating institutions. In Beijing alone, the number of participating institutions went up 25 percent compared with last year.
Portugal and Serbia were the first-time exhibitors this year. They hoped to enhance cooperation in education between their respective countries and China.
"By the numbers, the trend in the [number]of students from China going to Portugal is increasing along the years. We have been working with Chinese universities, and in the same way, we are promoting that Chinese students can go to Portugal. We welcome very much the offer that the Chinese authorities can do to increase the number of Portuguese students being send to China. That's the aim of people-to-people exchanges," said Paulo Nascimento, Portuguese ambassador to China.
"A very limited number of Chinese students are currently studying in Serbia, less than 1,000. We are here for the first time with cooperation between China and Serbia. And we think that we should promote more cooperation between the Chinese and Serbian higher education institutions, [because] there is room for improvement in this cooperation," said Maria, an exhibitor from Serbia.
The China Education Expo is a show tour organized by the China Education Association for International Exchange and held every October in Beijing, Shanghai and other cities since 2000. It is the largest student recruitment and B2B networking event in China, also an important part of the China Annual Conference and Expo for International Education.
Last year, 374 overseas schools, colleges, universities, governmental organizations, embassies and consulates from 34 countries and regions attended the CEE tour, which attracted around 30,000 visitors in four cities from all over the country.
China Education Expo concludes in Beijing
The Iranian government is focusing on public concerns and maintaining stable supplies of essential goods amid recent protests, Iranian President Masoud Pezeshkian said in a televised interview on Sunday.
In the city of Karaj, northwest of the capital Tehran, daily life has largely continued as normal. A video filmed by a local resident on Sunday shows food stores open and grocery shelves fully stocked.
"This is the block near my home, and there are some food stores here. Daily life continues here. Last night we did not see many protests in Karaj. Right now the city is very safe. This is a grocery store close to my home. All the food is available; nothing is in shortage. Here are noodles and different types of beans. Here are dairy products, cheese, and yogurt. I also checked other grocery stores and didn't see any shortages. Everything is available," said local resident Ali Reza.
Iranian officials have described recent disturbances as acts orchestrated by the "enemy," including some carried out by well-trained and armed "terrorists." The incidents have caused casualties among security personnel and civilians, as well as property damage.
The Secretary of Iran's Supreme National Security Council Ali Larijani has directed authorities to severely punish the "terrorists."
Meanwhile, Iran's police chief Ahmad-Reza Radan said on Sunday that the police had raised alert levels and arrested several leaders of the troublemakers during the operations on Saturday.
President Pezeshkian noted in the interview that the normal demands of the Iranian people are reasonable and justified, but they must realize that triggering riots and carrying out terrorist acts are the enemy's attempts to undermine the country. He urged the public to remain vigilant.
Also on Sunday, Iranian Parliament Speaker Mohammad Baqer Qalibaf warned that Tehran would regard U.S. and Israeli bases and facilities in the Middle East as "legitimate targets" if Washington takes military action against Iran. His remarks followed media reports saying U.S. President Donald Trump is "seriously considering authorizing a strike" against Iran.
Iranian state media reported that at least 109 members of Iran's security forces have been killed in clashes since the protests began 14 days ago. Meanwhile, human rights groups based outside the country said the number of protesters killed has exceeded 200, though the figure could not be independently verified.
The protests initially erupted over a sharp depreciation of the rial and sweeping subsidy reforms. Iranian authorities have blamed the unrest on foreign-linked agents and sanctions imposed by the United States.
Iranian president says government focusing on ensuring supplies amid protests
