Beijing, December 19, 2024: The Pakistan Embassy in Beijing hosted the first-ever China-Pakistan Technical and Vocational Education and Training (TVET) Forum, marking a significant step toward advancing cooperation in education and workforce development between the two nations.
Themed “Fostering a Skilled Workforce: Forging a Brighter Future,” the forum brought together policymakers, senior government officials, TVET service providers, enterprise representatives, and leaders of technical institutes from across China.
Keynote speakers included Jia Peng, Deputy Director General of International Cooperation at China’s Ministry of Education; Xu Yan, Deputy Director General of the China People’s Association for Friendship with Foreign Countries (CPAFFC); and Yang Yi, Director of the Vocational Training Division at the Ministry of Human Resources and Social Security. They highlighted the transformative role of TVET in enhancing employability and innovation and lauded the collaboration as a testament to the deep-rooted China-Pakistan friendship.
Pakistan’s Ambassador to China, Khalil Hashmi, welcomed participants and described the forum as a milestone in supporting Pakistan’s industrialization. He emphasized the importance of a skilled workforce in driving the next phase of China-Pakistan Economic Corridor (CPEC) projects and commended China’s ITMC for its role in introducing high-quality TVET programs in Pakistan.
In a video message, Ahsan Iqbal, Pakistan’s Minister for Planning, Development, and Special Initiatives, underscored the importance of TVET in sustainable economic growth and reaffirmed Pakistan’s commitment to expanding such programs in collaboration with China.
Federal Secretary Education and other dignitaries, including Sardar Amir Altaf Khan, Minister TEVTA (AJK), Brig. (R) Muhammad Sajid Khokhar, Chairperson Punjab TEVTA, and Amir Afaq, Secretary Industries, Commerce, and Technical Education (KPK), shared insights into Pakistan’s TVET landscape and proposed areas for future cooperation.
The forum featured three panel discussions and witnessed the signing of several Memorandums of Understanding (MoUs) between Chinese polytechnic institutes, TVET enterprises, and Pakistan’s provincial TEVTAs. A notable highlight was the unveiling of the ‘Kaiwu Workshop’ plaque at the National University of Technology (NUTECH), Islamabad.
In his closing remarks, Ambassador Hashmi congratulated the Embassy team on the forum’s success, stressing the importance of implementing the signed MoUs and making the forum an annual event in the embassy’s calendar.
This groundbreaking initiative is expected to play a pivotal role in building a skilled workforce and strengthening economic ties between Pakistan and China.
