China agrees in principle to Malaysia’s proposal for world TVET council, says Zahid

Deputy Prime Minister Datuk Seri Ahmad Zahid Hamidi said the agreement which includes a proposal for China to serve as the permanent host was conveyed by his counterpart, Ding Xuexiang, and Minister of Education Huai Jinpeng during a meeting yesterday. — Bernama pic

First Published: Friday, 16 Oct 2026 2:33 PM MYT

TIANJIN, Oct 16 — China has agreed in principle to Malaysia’s proposal to establish a World Technical and Vocational Education and Training (TVET) Council, said Deputy Prime Minister Datuk Seri Ahmad Zahid Hamidi.

Ahmad Zahid said the agreement which includes a proposal for China to serve as the permanent host was conveyed by his counterpart, Ding Xuexiang, and Minister of Education Huai Jinpeng during a meeting yesterday.

He noted that the proposal to establish the World TVET Council, with China acting as the permanent secretariat, was formally presented during his keynote address at the World Technical and Vocational Education and Training Development Conference 2026 (WVTEDC 2026) here today.

“I proposed it yesterday, and today I have officially put it forward in my speech. In terms of principle, Deputy Prime Minister Ding and China’s Minister of Education have agreed,” he said during a press conference following the event.

Ahmad Zahid, who also serves as the Minister of Rural and Regional Development, emphasised that the council is essential for creating a sustainable global platform to foster cooperation in skills development, technology, and workforce training, also expressed confidence in the initiative’s viability, citing China’s experience in organising TVET conferences over the past four years.

Ahmad Zahid, who also chairs the National TVET Committee, added that under this proposal, China would serve as the permanent secretariat to coordinate the sharing of knowledge and expertise within the TVET education ecosystem, thereby enabling member nations to benefit from ongoing collaboration.

The Deputy Prime Minister said the initiative also holds the potential to expand cooperation between TVET institutions in Malaysia and China including a proposed collaboration involving China’s “Luban Workshop” training centers, the Malaysia-China Institute (MCI), and various local TVET institutions.

Ahmad Zahid noted that such cooperation could pave the way for the implementation of skills training programmes, supporting Malaysia’s efforts to develop a highly skilled workforce capable of meeting the demands of the job market.

He added that the participation of over 100 countries and the attendance of 48 ministers at the WVTEDC 2026 conference reflect a global commitment to the development of education and skills training.

“We hope that efforts to strengthen the nation’s TVET ecosystem will continue to receive support from all stakeholders, in line with our aspiration to produce a workforce that meets industry needs, as Malaysia strives to become a highly skilled nation,” he said. — Bernama