TIANJIN: 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 Dr 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 Education Minister Huai Jinpeng during a meeting yesterday.
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He said 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 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 is also the Minister of Rural and Regional Development, emphasised that the council was essential to creating a sustainable global platform for cooperation in skills development, technology and workforce training. He 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, said that under the proposal, China would serve as the permanent secretariat to coordinate the sharing of knowledge and expertise within the TVET ecosystem, enabling member countries to benefit from ongoing collaboration.
The Deputy Prime Minister said the initiative could also expand cooperation between TVET institutions in Malaysia and China, including through proposed collaboration involving China’s Luban Workshop training centres, the Malaysia-China Institute (MCI) and various local TVET institutions.
He said such cooperation could pave the way for skills training programmes to support Malaysia’s efforts to develop a highly skilled workforce capable of meeting labour market demands.
Ahmad Zahid added that the participation of more than 100 countries and the attendance of 48 ministers at WVTEDC 2026 reflected a global commitment to developing 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.