On 23rd July 2018, the Open University of China (OUC) signed a strategic framework agreement with China Property Management Institute (CPMI). OUC president Yang Zhijian, vice president Liu Chen, CPMI chairman Shen Jianzhong, vice chairman and secretary general Wang Peng, and vice chairman and director of the OUC Learning Outcome Accreditation Centre (Property) Zhou Xinyi attended the signing ceremony.

On 14th July 2018, Shandong Radio and TV University (Shandong RTVU) launched its summer vacation social activities in the targeted village with the theme of “Supporting Poverty-Stricken Villages Through Teaching Aid”.

On 24th August, 2018, a delegation of 8 people from the OUC, including Party secretary and president Yang Zhijian and vice president Liu Chen, went to Shenzhen RTVU to provide guidance. Party secretary and president of Shenzhen RTVU Zhong Zhihong, vice president Wang Liang, secretary of the Discipline Inspection Committee and vice president Hu Xinsheng, as well as other department heads, joined them and exchanged views.

On the morning of 5th August 2018, Guangdong and Guangzhou “Realising Dreams of Further Education Action” achievement exhibition and graduation ceremony for the class of 2018 of the Guangzhou Experimental School of the Open University of China (OUC) was held at Guangzhou Radio and TV University (Guangzhou RTVU). Around five hundred staff and student representatives attended the ceremony.

On 7th Aug. 2018, Tongliao signed a cooperation agreement with the OUC and the Inner Mongolia RTVU on a capability-enhancement plan for one thousand cadres in Gacha Village, Sumu Town. Party secretary and OUC president Yang Zhijian; CPC central-committee member for the Inner Mongolia Autonomous Region and Tongliao municipal secretary Li Jiexiang; deputy Party secretary and president of the Inner Mongolia RTVU Chen Zhiping; and Tongliao municipal leaders Aori Gele, Qi Yanwei, and Wang Qiong attended the ceremony.

From 3-4th September 2018, the 2018 Forum on China-Africa Cooperation (FOCAC) was held in Beijing. A landmark event in the history of China-Africa relations, the FOCAC will further deepen the comprehensive strategic cooperative partnership between China and Africa, build a closer China-Africa community, and open a new era of win-win cooperation and common development between China and Africa.

From 25-30th July 2018, a five-person delegation led by Yang Zhijian, president of the OUC Party Committee, visited the OUT and attended the opening ceremony of the JLC established by the OUC and the OUT. They also signed an agreement on the joint construction of the teaching centre and carried out an investigation into the operation of the JLC, which has continuously promoted comprehensive cooperation between the two universities.

Continuing education is repeatedly emphasised in reports from the 16th, 17th, and 18th CPC National Congresses. A major decision has been made “to conduct effective continuing education” programmes, appearing once more in Comrade Xi Jinping’s report Secure a Decisive Victory in Building a Prosperous Society in all Aspects - Strive for the Great Success of Chinese Socialism in a New Era, (called “the Report” hereafter) delivered at the 19th CPC National Congress.