In order to further promote the in-depth implementation of the thematic education campaign on studying and implementing Xi Jinping Thought on Socialism with Chinese Characteristics for a New Era, to advance the high-quality development of elderly education, and to address the "bottleneck" issues in the development of elderly education, a delegation led by Liu Chen, deputy secretary of the Party Committee and president of the Seniors University of China (SUC) visited Guizhou Senior Citizens University (SU) on June 7, 2023.

They attended the cooperative negotiation meeting between the SUC and Guizhou SU. Long Lihong, deputy head of the Organisation Department of the Guizhou Provincial Party Committee and director of the Retired Cadres Bureau, as well as secretary of the Party Committee and president of Guizhou SU, were present at the meeting, during which both parties signed a cooperative agreement. Song Guangqiang, secretary of the Party Committee and a professor of Guizhou Open University (OU); Bao Anhua, deputy director of the Retired Cadres Bureau of Guizhou Province, a member of the Party Committee and vice president of Guizhou SU; and heads of relevant departments and units attended the negotiation meeting and witnessed the signing of the agreement.

In order to further promote the comprehensive implementation of the educational campaign on studying and implementing Xi Jinping Thought on Socialism with Chinese Characteristics for a New Era, enhance the quality development of elderly education, and address the challenges hindering its progress, a delegation led by Liu Chen, Deputy Secretary of the Party Committee and President of the Seniors University of China (SUC), visited Guizhou Senior Citizens University (SU) on June 7, 2023. They participated in a cooperative negotiation meeting between SUC and Guizhou SU. Long Lihong, Deputy Head of the Organization Department of the Guizhou Provincial Party Committee and Director of the Retired Cadres Bureau, as well as Secretary of the Party Committee and President of Guizhou SU, were in attendance. During the meeting, both parties signed a cooperative agreement. Song Guangqiang, Secretary of the Party Committee and a professor at Guizhou Open University (OU), Bao Anhua, Deputy Director of the Retired Cadres Bureau of Guizhou Province, Party Committee member, and Vice President of Guizhou SU, along with heads of relevant departments and units, attended the negotiation meeting and witnessed the signing of the agreement.

Liu Chen introduced the development of the SUC and affirmed the achievements of elderly education in Guizhou. He pointed out that developing the seniors university is an inevitable requirement to implement the decisions and deployments of the Party Central Committee and the State Council, as well as the state strategy in active response to population aging. Over the past nearly 40 years, Guizhou SU has gradually embarked on a path of modern elderly education operation that is in line with the characteristics of the times and Guizhou. It is hoped that Guizhou SU can leverage its own advantages in operating the university and strive to become a first-class seniors university in China. It is also hoped that both parties will adhere to the principle of "complementary advantages and win-win cooperation," take the initiative to seek new areas of cooperation, yield more fruitful cooperative results, further implement the national strategy to address population ageing, and better meet the growing spiritual and cultural needs of the elderly in the new era, further ensuring opportunities for the elderly to receive education and learning, to have leisure, and to make accomplishment contribution so as to form a new pattern of elderly education development with Chinese characteristics.

Liu Chen introduced the development of SUC and acknowledged the accomplishments of elderly education in Guizhou. He emphasized that the establishment of a seniors university is an essential requirement for implementing the decisions and plans of the Party Central Committee and the State Council, as well as addressing the challenges posed by population aging. Over the past four decades, Guizhou SU has made significant progress in modernizing elderly education that aligns with the characteristics of the era and the region of Guizhou. It is expected that Guizhou SU will leverage its operational advantages and strive to become a leading seniors university in China. Furthermore, both parties are encouraged to adhere to the principle of "complementary strengths and mutually beneficial cooperation," actively explore new areas of collaboration, achieve more fruitful outcomes, and effectively implement the national strategy to address population aging. This will enable them to better meet the evolving spiritual and cultural needs of the elderly in the new era, provide expanded opportunities for education and lifelong learning, offer leisure activities, and enable the elderly to make meaningful contributions. Together, they can shape a new paradigm for elderly education development with distinctive Chinese characteristics.

Long Lihong, on behalf of Guizhou SU, extended a warm welcome to Liu Chen and his delegation and expressed gratitude for the concern and support of the SUC for elderly education in Guizhou. Long stated that Guizhou SU adheres to the guidance of Xi Jinping Thought on Socialism with Chinese Characteristics for a New Era, and focuses on the central tasks and serves the overall situation to keep expanding the coverage of elderly education throughout the province and the operation scale of various levels of seniors universities. The operation conditions are improving, the education qualities are enhancing, and the sense of fulfillment, happiness, and safety among the elderly population in Guizhou are boosting.

Long Lihong, representing Guizhou SU, warmly welcomed Liu Chen and his delegation, expressing gratitude for the SUC's support and attention to elderly education in Guizhou. Long emphasized that Guizhou SU adheres to the guidance of Xi Jinping Thought on Socialism with Chinese Characteristics for a New Era, focusing on the primary tasks and serving the overall goals. The university continues to expand the reach of elderly education across the province and enhance the scale of operations at various levels of seniors universities. The operational conditions are improving, the quality of education is being enhanced, and there is a growing sense of fulfillment, happiness, and safety among the elderly population in Guizhou.

The SUC, Guizhou SU, and Guizhou OU will strengthen cooperation and jointly promote the high-quality development of elderly education to open a new chapter in elderly education in Guizhou. In the principle of "complementary advantages, collaborative innovation, resource sharing, and mutual benefit", both parties will explore new paths and models for high-quality development of elderly education through the exchange and complementarity of teaching resources, joint construction and sharing of theoretical research results. This cooperation aims to serve the building of a society and country where lifelong learning is pursued by all.

SUC, Guizhou SU, and Guizhou OU will enhance their collaboration to drive the high-quality development of elderly education and usher in a new era for elderly education in Guizhou. Operating under the principles of "complementary strengths, collaborative innovation, resource sharing, and mutual benefits," both parties will explore innovative approaches and models for the advancement of elderly education. This will be achieved through the exchange and integration of teaching resources, as well as joint efforts in theoretical research. The ultimate goal of this cooperation is to contribute to the establishment of a learning society and country where lifelong learning is pursued by all.

By OUC School for Older Adults