Rana Mashhood calls for stronger China-Pakistan cooperation in vocational education, youth development

BEIJING, Oct 29 (APP):Chairman of the Prime Minister's Youth Programme Rana Mashhood Ahmad Khan Thursday called for stronger international partnerships in vocational education, technical training, and youth employment, emphasizing the importance of aligning educational programmes with industrial needs to create sustainable economic opportunities for young people. Addressing the Belt and Road International Industry-Education Cooperation Forum, Rana Mashhood said Pakistan was committed to developing practical and sustainable partnerships with international counterparts to promote youth empowerment, industrial upgrading, and shared economic prosperity. On behalf of the Government of Pakistan, he congratulated the organizers on convening the forum and expressed appreciation to TANG International Education Group for providing a platform to strengthen international cooperation in education and skills development. Highlighting the importance of industry-education integration, Rana Mashhood said young people were among the most valuable resources of every country and a driving force behind national development and social progress. He stressed that education must extend beyond classrooms and respond directly to the changing requirements of industries and technological advancement. He noted that vocational education and technical training were essential to improving young people's practical skills, employability, and entrepreneurial capabilities, particularly in emerging sectors such as the digital economy, advanced manufacturing, energy, and healthcare. Rana Mashhood reaffirmed that youth development remained a key priority of the Government of Pakistan under the vision of Prime Minister Muhammad Shehbaz Sharif. He said the Prime Minister's Youth Programme was pursuing youth empowerment through its four-pillar framework of Education, Employment, Engagement, and Environment, with particular emphasis on productive employment under the National Youth Employment Policy. He expressed Pakistan's willingness to benefit from China's experience in vocational education, industrial development, and skills training. He called for translating cooperation into concrete initiatives, including joint training programmes, curriculum development, vocational teacher training, applied research, institutional partnerships, and stronger links between graduates and employers. Underscoring the longstanding strategic partnership between Pakistan and China, Rana Mashhood said the Belt and Road Initiative and the continued development of the China-Pakistan Economic Corridor (CPEC) offered significant opportunities to strengthen the relationship between talent development and industrial growth. He said the Prime Minister's Youth Programme was ready to work with Chinese universities, vocational colleges, enterprises, and educational institutions to expand cooperation through student exchanges, teacher training, digital education platforms, international certification, and school-enterprise partnerships. A major development highlighted in his address was the establishment of the Chinese Secretariat of Pakistan's Prime Minister's Youth Programme at TANG International Education Group in June 2026. He described the initiative as an important step toward strengthening institutional communication and coordination between the two countries in youth development, skills training, and educational cooperation. The secretariat is expected to serve as a bridge connecting government initiatives, educational institutions, and industry partners, helping identify shared priorities and translate cooperation plans into tangible outcomes for young people. Rana Mashhood also called for an open and inclusive international vocational education network involving countries including China, Thailand, Brazil, Malaysia, Uzbekistan, and Kyrgyzstan. He encouraged greater exchange of expertise, closer alignment of training with industry requirements, and exploration of mutual recognition of skills and qualifications. Concluding his remarks, he expressed confidence that the forum would deepen mutual understanding, strengthen international partnerships, and contribute to the United Nations 2030 Agenda for Sustainable Development, while creating better educational and employment opportunities for the next generation.