Pakistan Embassy, Beijing hosted today the inaugural China-Pakistan Technical and Vocational Education and Training (TVET) Forum as a ground-breaking initiative to promote bilateral cooperation in education and human resource development. Titled as “Fostering a Skilled Workforce: Forging a Brighter Future,” the Forum brought together policy makers, high-level government officials, renowned TVET service-providers, representatives of enterprises and leadership of technical and vocational institutes from across the breadth of China. The keynote speakers included Mr Jia Peng, Deputy Director General of the Department of International Cooperation and Exchanges, Ministry of Education; Mr Xu Yan, Deputy Director General of China People’s Association for Friendship with Foreign Countries (CPAFFC); and Ms. Yang Yi, Director of the Vocational Training Division, Ministry of Human Resources and Social Security. The speakers emphasized the pivotal role of TVET in equipping individuals with practical skills, fostering employability, and driving innovation in modern industries. They also underscored China Pakistan TVET cooperation as a shining manifestation of iron-clad friendship between the two countries. In his welcome remarks, H.E. Mr. Khalil Hashmi, Ambassador of Pakistan to China, described the Forum as a vital milestone in Embassy's efforts to support the process of industrialization in Pakistan. Ambassador Hashmi expressed the hope that the Forum would contribute to building a productive workforce equipped with essential skills to deliver on CPEC projects in its next phase. He appreciated the exceptional support rendered by ITMC, China in introducing high-quality TVET programs in Pakistan. In a pre-recorded message, Professor Ahsan Iqbal, Minister for Planning, Development, and Special Initiatives, Pakistan underlined the critical role of TVET in achieving sustainable economic growth. He reiterated Pakistan’s commitment to working with China to expand TVET programs as part of five E’s development framework of Pakistan. The Forum also featured video remarks by Federal Secretary Education and speeches by Sardar Amir Altaf Khan, Minister TEVTA, AJK, Brig. (R) Muhammad Sajid Khokhar, Chairperson, Punjab TEVTA, Mr. Amir Afaq, Secretary Industries, Commerce and Technical Education, KPK, who presented an overview of TEVT landscape in Pakistan, outlined emerging trends and shared recommendations for future collaboration. Three panel discussions were also organized during the Forum to enlighten the audience on various dimensions of the TVET cooperation. On the occasion, several Memorandums of Understanding (MoUs) were also signed by the Chinese polytechnic institutes, TVET enterprises and service-providers and provincial Technical Education and Vocational Training Authorities (TEVTA’s) of Pakistan. A plaque unveiling ceremony to inaugurate ‘Kaiwu Workshop’ at the National University of Technology (NUTECH), Islamabad was another highlight of the event. In his concluding remarks, Ambassador Khalil Hashmi congratulated the Embassy team on the successful convening of the Forum and underlined the importance of effective implementation of the MoU’s signed at the event. He also expressed determination to make the Forum part of annual calendar of major events organized by Pakistan Embassy in Beijing.
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