From 20 to 21 December 2023, the Belt and Road International Forum on Vocational Education was held in Hebei Province, China. This forum is a supporting activity of the third Belt and Road Forum for International Cooperation organised by the Chinese government, and is a concrete initiative to implement President Xi Jinping's important instructions on the joint construction of the "Belt and Road". The forum is led by the China Vocational Education Association (CVEA), co-sponsored by the China Education Association for International Exchange (CEAIE) and Education Forum for Asia (EFA), and co-hosted by the People's Government of Baoding Municipality and the Management Committee of Xiong'an New Area.
At the opening ceremony on the 20th, Hao Mingjin, Vice Chairman of the Standing Committee of the National People's Congress and Chairman of the China Vocational Education Association, attended the conference and delivered a keynote speech. Dong Zhaowei, Vice Governor of People's Government of Hebei Provincial , Uyhayi Istvan, Member of the European Parliament and Vice-Chairman of the Committee on Transport and Tourism of the European Parliament, Li Yingli, Deputy Director General of the Department of Vocational and Adult Education of the Ministry of Education, and Miergombo Enkhbold, Former Chairman of the National State Great Hural of Mongolia, attended the Opening Ceremony and delivered speeches one after another.
The 2-day event includes a series of activities such as the opening ceremony, keynote forum, dialogue and exchange between China and foreign countries, experience sharing and project promotion, release of vocational education collaborative development initiatives, parallel forums, traditional Chinese culture exhibition, and immersive on-site forums.
Oscar Prat van Thiel, President of World Skills Development Alliance (WSDA), spoke on the topic of "Vocational Education Enabling the Construction of the Belt and Road". Oscar pointed out that “the Belt and Road Initiative proposed by China symbolizes a visionary approach to global collaboration, connectivity, and mutual development. The outlook for Sino-European relations in the Belt and Road Initiative is positive, and Europe, with its diverse cultures and advanced economies, has much to gain from this collaboration. The exchange of vocational education allows both regions to benefit from the wealth of knowledge and experience that each brings to the table.
“The WSDA is committed to connecting quality education resources in China and Europe, with a membership network covering nearly 50 countries and regions around the world, and has already helped Chinese vocational colleges to connect with resources in 13 "Belt and Road" countries. In the future, WSDA hopes to promote the development and co-operation of vocational education between China and Europe through the training of "Chinese + vocational skills" training, overseas branch construction and "dual qualification" co-operation, Sino-European school-enterprise co-operation, and overseas training, so as to contribute to the high-quality development of vocational education in the world.”
Representatives of governments, embassies and consulates in China and chambers of commerce from 27 countries, 24 international organisations, Fortune 500 enterprises and foreign colleges and universities as well as overseas representatives; leaders from relevant domestic ministries and commissions, leaders from the China Vocational Education Association (CVEA), and representatives of local governments, industry-education fusion enterprises, and vocational colleges, etc., amounting to more than 500 people, participated in the conference. 36 media outlets, including Xinhua News Agency, Xinhua Net, People's Daily, Guangming Daily, China News Agency, China Central Radio and Television (CCTV), and China Education Television (CETV), participated in the conference.
President Oscar Prat van Thiel's interview with China Education Television (CETV)
President Oscar Prat van Thiel's interview with Baoding Daily
