TIANJIN, China, October 16 2026, China has agreed in principle to Malaysia’s proposal to establish a World Technical and Vocational Education and Training (TVET) Council, Deputy Prime Minister Datuk Seri Dr Ahmad Zahid Hamidi said.
Ahmad Zahid said the agreement was conveyed by Chinese Deputy Prime Minister Ding Xuexiang and Education Minister Huai Jinpeng during a meeting yesterday. The proposal also envisages China serving as the council’s permanent host and secretariat.
He formally presented the initiative in his keynote address at the World Technical and Vocational Education and Training Development Conference 2026 (WVTEDC 2026) today.
“Yesterday, I proposed it, and today I officially presented it in my speech. In principle, Deputy Prime Minister Ding and China’s Minister of Education have agreed,” he said at a press conference after the event.
Ahmad Zahid, who is also Rural and Regional Development Minister and chairman of the National TVET Committee, said the proposed council would provide a sustainable international platform for countries to collaborate on skills development, technology and workforce training.
He said China’s experience in organising TVET conferences over the past four years provided a strong foundation for the initiative.
Under the proposal, China would host the permanent secretariat, coordinating the exchange of knowledge and expertise among participating countries to strengthen international cooperation in TVET.
The initiative could also deepen collaboration between Malaysian and Chinese TVET institutions, including through potential partnerships involving China’s Luban Workshop training centres, the Malaysia-China Institute (MCI) and local TVET institutions.
Ahmad Zahid said such partnerships could facilitate skills training programmes and help Malaysia develop a highly skilled workforce that meets industry requirements.
He noted that the participation of more than 100 countries and 48 ministers at WVTEDC 2026 demonstrated growing international commitment to advancing technical education and skills training.
He expressed hope that continued support from stakeholders would strengthen Malaysia’s TVET ecosystem and help the country achieve its ambition of becoming a highly skilled nation with a workforce equipped to meet industry needs.
-BERNAMA
