The initial China-Pakistan Technical and Vocational Education and Training (TVET) Forum was organized at the Pakistan Embassy, another significant event being the advancement in bilateral cooperation in human resource development and education. “Fostering a Skilled Workforce: Forging a Brighter Future” attracted policymakers, high-ranking government officials, enterprise representatives, renowned TVET service providers, and leaders from technical and vocational institutes across China, bringing them together.
The welcome address was delivered by the keynote speakers, including Jia Peng, Deputy Director General, Department of International Cooperation and Exchanges, Ministry of Education; Yang Yi, Director, of Vocational Training Division, Ministry of Human Resources and Social Security; and Xu Yan, Deputy Director-General, China People’s Association for Friendship with Foreign Countries (CPAFFC). They emphasized that TVET should offer practical skills, improve their employability, and be engines of innovation in modern industries. The speakers valued this cooperation as a testimony of the close friendship between China and Pakistan.
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In his welcome remarks, the Ambassador of Pakistan to China, Khalil Hashmi, termed the forum as a milestone in the embassy’s endeavors to support Pakistan’s industrialization process. He hoped that this event would contribute to building a productive workforce equipped with the requisite skills to take the CPEC projects to the next level. Furthermore, he admired ITMC, China, for its excellent support of high-quality TVET programs in Pakistan conditions.
Ministerial Planning, Development and Special Initiatives Ahsan Iqbal explained through a recorded message the importance train is carrying in the TVET for making the economy of the country self-sustainable. He recalled the efforts put by his and by countries, especially China, in diversifying the TVET programs under the 5 Es development framework in Pakistan.
Video remarks from the Federal Secretary of Education and speeches from Sardar Amir Altaf Khan, Minister TEVTA, AJK, Brig. (R) Muhammad Sajid Khokhar, Chairperson, Punjab TEVTA; and Amir Afaq, Secretary Industries, Commerce and Technical Education from KPK were also part of the above. The event provided a great background as to what is new in the country today and offered recommendations for future collaboration.