The South and Southeast Asian University Network, also known as SSE ASIAN UN, is a higher education regional international cooperation mechanism approved by the Yunnan Provincial Department of Education and filed in the International Division of the Ministry of Education, and initiated by Yunnan University in Kunming, Yunnan province in December 2018. The secretariat of S&SE ASIAN UN is permanently located at YNU.

It aims to further enhance the humanities exchanges and people-to-people bonds between China and South Asian and Southeast Asian countries, establish a platform for regional higher education exchanges and cooperation, as well as build a regional higher education community.

To date, more than 120 Chinese and foreign universities have participated in the activities of S&SE ASIAN UN, including 75 South and Southeast Asian universities from countries like Pakistan, Cambodia, Laos, Myanmar, Bangladesh, Malaysia, Nepal, Sri Lanka, Thailand, Indonesia, Singapore, and Vietnam.

After two years of development, S&SE ASIAN UN have become an important platform for cultural exchanges in South Asia and Southeast Asia, as well as an important boost to the construction of the Radiation Center of Yunnan province, with its influence being initially demonstrated.

At present, S&SE ASIAN UN have created four major brand activities, including the S&SE ASIAN UN Forum sponsored by the Yunnan Provincial Department of Education, the Yunnan Conference on International Exchange of Professionals sponsored by the CPC Yunnan Provincial Committee and the Yunnan Provincial People's Government, the SSE ASIAN UN Sports Culture Exchange Week, as well as the consultation mechanism of the university alliance, the first consultation mechanism and platform of China's university alliances. 

In the future, SSE ASIAN UN will implement the Four-Year Development Plan for the South Asia and Southeast Asia University Network (2020-2023), gradually move from the foundation stage to the stage of improving quality and efficiency, as well as further promote the people-to-people bond and policy communication between China and South Asian and Southeast Asian countries, enhancing Belt and Road cooperation.