With the development of globalization, international cooperation and exchanges among colleges and universities have become increasingly important. To enhance the international competitiveness and influence of colleges and universities and to promote scientific research innovation and talent cultivation, Nanning University invited colleges and universities in ASEAN countries to open up and cooperate to form the Neighbor Partners Alliance Among UNN-ASEAN Universities and invited colleges and universities in China to form the Bugu Alliance of Application-oriented Universities. Through the alliance, the university will form a "circle of friends" and a "circle of neighbors" in China and ASEAN countries respectively, and fully leverage the important role of Nanning in facing the ASEAN area and build a platform for cooperation and exchange among Chinese-ASEAN applied universities.

On the morning of June 20, 2024, the inaugural meeting of Neighbor Partners Alliance Among UNN-ASEAN Universities was held in Conference Room 302 of the Student Activity Center at Nanning University. Chollada Pongpattanayothin, Vice President of Bansomdejchaopraya Rajabhat University, Chng Loi Peng, Director of the Centre for Continuing and Professional Education, Tunku Abdul Rahman University of Management and Technology, Azmawani Binti Abd Rahman, President/CEO of Putra Business School, Choong Chee Keong, Vice President of Universiti Tunku Abdul Rahman, Wong Eng Kiong, Vice President of Multimedia University, and Li Dongxue, President of Nanning University, were present at the inaugural meeting. The meeting was presided over by Gong Ji, Vice President of Nanning University.

The participants reviewed and approved the "Articles of Neighbor Partners Alliance Among UNN-ASEAN Universities (Draft)," and passed the proposed list of candidates for the first Presidential Unit of the Council, the Office of the Secretary-General, and the Council Members of the Neighbor Partners Alliance Among UNN-ASEAN Universities. The Bansomdejchaopraya Rajabhat University of Thailand was elected as the Presidential Unit of the Council, with Nanning University as the Office of the Secretary-General, and other Council Members including Putra Business School, Universiti Tunku Abdul Rahman, Hanoi University of Industry, Tunku Abdul Rahman University of Management and Technology, and Multimedia University.

Chollada Pongpattanayothin, Vice President of Bansomdejchaopraya Rajabhat University delivered a speech on behalf of the Presidential Unit of the Council. She said that the establishment of the Neighbor Partners Alliance Among UNN-ASEAN Universities was very meaningful. Bansomdejchaopraya Rajabhat University and Nanning University had a good foundation of cooperation, and they would further expand the circle of friends and improve the university’s international competitiveness after joining the alliance. She hoped that the members of the alliance could work closely together to promote the development of education.

As the representative of the Office of the Secretary-General, Vice President Gong Ji of Nanning University said that Nanning University will strive to promote international exchanges and cooperation among members of the alliance, jointly explore the path and direction of education and teaching reform and provide a platform and support for the sharing of high-quality educational resources.

The Neighbor Partners Alliance Among UNN-ASEAN Universities upholds the concept of “interconnection and interoperability, symbiosis and win-win situation”, the spirit of “Virtue is not left to stand alone. He who practises it will have neighbors”, and the tenet of “Hand in Hand, Striving Ahead”. It will give full play to the advantages of alliance members, initiate and advocate cross-border, cross-professional, and cross-field multidisciplinary collaboration, and enhance the synergistic development of internationalized talent cultivation. The Alliance aims to establish an innovative, efficient, and sustainable educational resource-sharing platform between universities within China and ASEAN countries led by Nanning University to promote talent cultivation, international exchanges, and resource sharing among ASEAN universities, Chinese universities, and enterprises in the new era. The establishment of the alliance not only provides a new opportunity for the cooperation between Nanning University and colleges and universities in ASEAN countries but also injects a new impetus to enhance the level of internationalization of regional education and promote education reform and innovation. It is believed that under the promotion of the Neighbor Partners Alliance Among UNN-ASEAN Universities, the member universities will give full play to their respective advantages, join hands to make progress, and jointly welcome the bright future of education.

Vice President Gong Ji presided over the meeting