A signed article featuring the bright prospects of the China-Kazakhstan vocational education cooperation by Zhang Xiao, Chinese Ambassador to Kazakhstan, was published in leading Kazakh newspapers and on media outlets on Nov 11, 2022.

Zhang Xiao, Chinese Ambassador to Kazakhstan, publishes an article on Kazakh media outlets. [Photo/new.fmprc.gov.cn/]

In the article, Zhang said that since the establishment and high-level development of the permanent comprehensive strategic partnership between China and Kazakhstan, the two countries have made great strides in their pragmatic cooperation on the building of the Belt and Road Initiative (BRI), industrial capacity, trade, infrastructural connectivity, energy and agriculture, and added that their in-depth cooperation has unleashed huge demand for professional and vocational personnel and brought about historic opportunities for bilateral cooperation on vocational education.

The development of vocational education is of vital importance to further improve the qualification and skills of the labor force, promote employment and advance national industrialization.

Over the past few years, the United Nations Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organization (UNESCO), the European Commission and the World Economic Forum have underscored the importance of vocational education. Meanwhile, all countries have redoubled their efforts to support vocational education, promote the utilization of digital technologies, deepen international cooperation and advance sustainable development.

Zhang Xiao, Chinese Ambassador to Kazakhstan, publishes an article on Kazakh media outlets. [Photo/new.fmprc.gov.cn/]

China has built the world's largest vocational education system, which comprises 11,200 vocational schools with over 1,300 academic disciplines, and nurtures over 10 million graduates every year. The country has proactively conducted international exchanges and cooperation on vocational education, built stable ties with over 70 countries and international organizations to cooperate on vocational education, hosted the World Vocational and Technical Education Development Conference, the World Vocational College Skills Competition and the World Expo on the Integration of Vocational Education with Industry, and has taken lead in the establishment of the World TVET League.

The Kazakhstan Luban Workshop program has been launched by the Tianjin Vocational Institute, which is working with prospective Kazakh universities and vocational institutes to finalize construction sites, curriculum design and the training of teaching personnel.

Noting that the year 2023 will mark the 10th anniversary of China's proposal on the building of the Belt and Road Initiative (BRI) in Kazakhstan, Zhang said that through the concerted efforts of the two countries, the Kazakhstan Luban Workshop program is expected to nurture a large number of professional and technical talents for the high-quality development of Kazakh economic and social affairs and the high-quality cooperation between two countries. He noted that the Chinese embassy in Kazakhstan will do its utmost to support the Kazakhstan Luban Workshop program.