The online edition of the International Forum on AI and the Futures of Education (AIED) 2020 co-organized by UNESCO, Ministry of Education of the People’s Republic of China and National Commission of the People’s Republic of China for UNESCO was held from 7 to 8 December 2020. Minister of Education CHEN Baosheng attended the meeting, and TIAN Xuejun, Vice Minister of Education and Chairperson of Chinese National Commission for UNESCO presided over the opening ceremony. Chairperson of the Executive Board of UNESCO Agapito Mba Mokuy, Assistant Director-General for Education of UNESCO Stefania Giannini and heads of education administration departments, experts, scholars and representatives of private companies from more than 40 countries including the ministers of education of Slovenia, the United Arab Emirates and other countries attended the meeting online. Professor YANG Zongkai, President of Xidian University, attended the meeting and made reports at the Special session and the Parallel Session.

President YANG Zongkai conducted an in-depth analysis of the extensive application of information technology to reshape and rebuild the education system, and discussed the impact of AI on education and the trend of future education development. He also put forward suggestions on how to use AI technology to promote the development of the African region, and introduced the specific practice of Xidian to support the development of Africa and promote South-South cooperation.

On June 24, the UNESCO-Africa-China Online High-level Dialogue for Supporting Priority Africa in the COVID-19 and Post-COVID context was held. Minister of Education CHEN Baosheng attended and delivered a keynote speech. TIAN Xuejun, Vice Minister of Education and Chairperson of Chinese National Commission for UNESCO, and Firmin Edouard Matoko, Assistant Director-general of UNESCO for Priority Africa and External Relations co-chaired the dialogue. This High-level Dialogue was attended by Ministers from Côte d'Ivoire, Egypt, Ethiopia, Mali, Namibia, and Togo, as well as UNESCO Assistant Director-General for Priority Africa and External Relations, UNESCO Assistant Director-General for Education, UNESCO Field Offices’ Directors in Africa. President YANG Zongkai spoke as a representative of Chinese universities.