The inaugural meeting of Sub-Committee of the Chinese Language Education, South and Southeast Asian University Network and the Seminar on Chinese Language Education were held at Yunnan University on Sept 23.

Faqeer Muhammad, Vice Chancellor of Karakoram International University; Phoxay Thepvilayvong, Vice Dean of Faculty of Language Education, National University of Laos; Tint Moe Thuzar, President of Yadanabon University; and Thwe Linn Ko, a professor of Yadanabon University; Bajracharya Subarna Lal, President of Lumbini Buddhist University; Khadka Kumar, Director of International Exchange, Lumbini Buddhist University; Shirantha Heenkenda, Dean of Faculty of Humanities and Social Sciences, University of Sri Jayewardenepura; Shen Qingli, a professor at the School of Literature of Beijing Normal University; representatives of the secretariat of the S&SE ASIAN UN, faculties and students from Yunnan University attended the meeting.

51 universities from 12 countries joined the sub-committee as founding members.

Yunnan University established the "Southeast Asian Culture and Chinese Literature Laboratory" in 1991 to conduct research in the fields of Southeast Asian culture and Chinese literature in the region. The establishment of the Sub-Committee is expected to accelerate the development of education on Chinese culture, Chinese studies and Chinese language. It will also promote more people-to-people and academic exchanges between Chinese universities and their peers in South and Southeast Asia.