China Annual Education Conference: 11 Landmark Agreements under the Prime Minister’s Youth Program

China Annual Education Conference: 11 Landmark Agreements under the Prime Minister’s Youth Program
(Asghar Ali Mubarak)
Under Prime Minister Muhammad Shehbaz Sharif’s vision, Pakistan has taken another major, historic stride toward a “Skilled, Empowered, and Digital Pakistan.” Pakistan has achieved a remarkable international milestone during the visit of Rana Mashhood Ahmed Khan, Chairman of the Prime Minister’s Youth Program, to China. Through the China-Pakistan Economic Corridor (CPEC) and the Belt and Road Initiative (BRI), skill exchanges between the two nations will take on a new, broader dimension. The establishment of a Chinese Secretariat for the Prime Minister’s Youth Program in China—set for June 2026—marks a historic development; under this initiative, both countries have resolved to accelerate efforts regarding student exchanges, advanced training for educators, and the provision of internationally recognized certifications. In this context, Rana Mashhood Ahmed Khan proposed the creation of an expansive international educational network, which will involve the establishment of a joint technical education channel in collaboration with China, Thailand, Brazil, Malaysia, Uzbekistan, and Kyrgyzstan. This forum and the proposed technical network will prove instrumental and pivotal in achieving the United Nations’ 2030 Agenda for Sustainable Development, preparing the youth—not only in Pakistan but across all partner nations in the region—to meet the demands of the global market. International partnerships in the realm of technical and vocational training hold fundamental and strategic importance for aligning a nation’s workforce with the requirements of the modern global economy. In the context of Pakistan, key institutions such as the Prime Minister’s Youth Programme (PMYP) and the National Vocational and Technical Training Commission (NAVTTC) are currently collaborating with China and other developed nations. Their extensive efforts focus on skill exchange, advanced training for instructors, and aligning educational curricula with industrial requirements. Through such international partnerships, youth are provided with market-driven technical training—moving beyond traditional academic education—and gain access to internationally recognized certifications, which helps remove barriers to securing employment abroad.
In recent years, Pakistan-China cooperation has led to remarkable and historic progress in this sector. Notable examples include the China-ASEAN High Vocational Education Exhibition (CACIE) and the establishment of a Chinese secretariat for the Prime Minister’s Youth Programme in China. Leveraging these international platforms, prominent Pakistani institutions—such as Punjab TEVTA and the University of Lahore—have partnered with Chinese educational networks to establish joint training centers in emerging, future-oriented fields like mechatronics, clean and green energy, cross-border e-commerce, and healthcare. Furthermore, Pakistan is working on proposals to establish a broader, collaborative technical education network involving China, Thailand, Brazil, Malaysia, and Central Asian nations. This initiative will serve as a pivotal milestone toward achieving the United Nations’ 2030 Agenda for Sustainable Development and capitalizing on the vast employment opportunities generated under the China-Pakistan Economic Corridor (CPEC). At the 2026 China-ASEAN Vocational Education Exhibition, Pakistan secured the highest number of agreements, paving the way for the launch of 14 distinct skill-development and educational initiatives for Pakistani youth. Under these landmark agreements, prominent Pakistani educational and technical institutions—including the University of Lahore, Ghazi University, NAVTTC, Preston University, and Punjab TEVTA—have established partnerships with leading Chinese institutions and educational networks. These initiatives open new avenues for bilateral cooperation in emerging future-oriented sectors such as mechatronics, green energy, nursing, modern agriculture, and cross-border e-commerce. During the visit, Chairman Rana Mashhood Ahmed Khan officially inaugurated a ‘Cross-Border E-Commerce Talent Training Base’ in Beijing, which will provide Pakistani youth with access to the global digital marketplace. Additionally, an ‘International Nursing Talent Training Base’ has been established to meet the growing global demand in the healthcare sector; here, Pakistani paramedical staff will receive training based on modern, international standards. A significant breakthrough was also achieved regarding ML-1, the largest project under Pakistan Railways. Immediately following highly successful and detailed discussions with the Chairman of the Prime Minister’s Youth Programme (PMYP), Han Hui, Secretary of the China Railway Group, departed for Pakistan accompanied by a high-level delegation. This partnership has initiated practical work toward providing state-of-the-art training and employment opportunities for the Pakistani workforce within the railway sector. An “International Green Power Talent Development Base” has been jointly launched in collaboration with the China Electricity Council—the authoritative body for the power sector—to foster self-reliance in the field of clean and green energy. Furthermore, to help overcome language barriers, Jilin College will enroll 15 Pakistani students in a specialized Chinese language training program starting this November; all associated costs and academic arrangements have already been finalized. During his visit, Rana Mashhood Ahmed Khan also delivered a special address at the international Belt and Road Forum. Emphasizing the need to prepare a workforce aligned with modern industrial requirements, he stated that Pakistan is shifting its focus from traditional education to market-driven technical training and international certifications, enabling its youth to compete on a global scale.
The Chairman of the Prime Minister’s Youth Program underscored that technical education is the key to preparing youth to meet the demands of the industrial sector. He noted that empowering the youth is a cornerstone of Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif’s vision, and that Pakistan-China cooperation will open new avenues of development for Pakistani youth. He advocated for leveraging China’s experience to elevate technical education to international standards, adding that joint training programs would significantly enhance the capabilities of Pakistani youth. He further highlighted that the synergy between education and industry would create new employment opportunities, while the establishment of a Chinese Secretariat for the Prime Minister’s Youth Program would provide fresh momentum to educational cooperation between Pakistan and China. Rana Mashhood Ahmed Khan reiterated the resolve that CPEC and the Belt and Road Initiative hold vast development opportunities for Pakistani youth, which will be fully leveraged. Technical teams from both countries have formally begun work to ensure the prompt implementation of these projects. At the China-ASEAN Vocational Education Exhibition (CACIE) 2026, Pakistan surpassed all other participating nations by securing the highest number of agreements, taking the top spot. A total of 11 significant Pakistan-China agreements were signed, paving the way for the launch of 14 distinct skill-based and educational programs for Pakistani youth. Through these landmark agreements, prominent Pakistani educational and technical institutions—including the University of Lahore, Ghazi University, NAVTTC, Preston University, and Punjab TEVTA—have established partnerships with leading Chinese institutions and educational networks. These initiatives open new avenues for bilateral cooperation in emerging future-oriented sectors such as mechatronics, green energy, nursing, modern agriculture, and cross-border e-commerce. By securing the largest number of agreements among all participating countries at the 27th China Annual Conference and Expo for International Education (CACIE 2026), Pakistan has paved the way for international certifications and employment opportunities for its youth. Of the 11 agreements, three involve the Prime Minister’s Youth Programme (PMYP) in partnership with the China Global Professional and Technical Certification Center, Jilin Electronic Information Vocational and Technical College, and Peili Vocational College. The remaining eight agreements connect the University of Lahore, Ghazi University, NAVTTC Karachi, Preston Institute of Management Sciences and Technology, and Punjab TEVTA with various Chinese vocational colleges. These agreements encompass the fields of mechatronics, green energy, mobile communications, nursing, modern agriculture, cross-border e-commerce, and international skills certification. The Beijing-based PMYP China Secretariat will serve as the coordinating body. These initiatives include an International Nursing Talent Training Base, a Cross-Border E-Commerce Talent Training Base (inaugurated by the Chairman), the Pakistan Tiangong College, a Joint Teacher Training Center, and new committees focused on industrial robotics and electronic information engineering.
– Employment opportunities via ML-1: Following strategic discussions with the Chairman, Han Hui, Secretary of the China Railway Group, departed for Pakistan the same day to initiate practical work on skills training and employment generation linked to the ML-1 railway upgrade. Jilin Electronic Information Vocational and Technical College has already trained 10 Pakistani instructors and will enroll 15 Pakistani students in its Chinese language program starting in November. The Chairman stated: “Every enrolled student and every trained teacher represents a step toward a strong and skilled Pakistan.” In collaboration with the China Electricity Council, Thailand’s Office of the Vocational Education Commission (OVEC), and the Tang International Education Group, the Chairman jointly launched the ‘International Green Power Talent Development Base.’ He also presented the ‘China-Pakistan International Education Cooperation Awards,’ organized under the auspices of the Embassy of Pakistan in Beijing. Addressing the ‘Belt and Road International Forum on Industry-Education Cooperation,’ the Chairman emphasized training aligned with industrial requirements, joint educational programs, international certification, and the professional development of vocational instructors. Furthermore, he addressed an international seminar on ‘Green Energy Talent Exchange’ held at the China Electricity Council; met with Pakistan’s Ambassador Ali Asad Gilani and senior embassy officials to discuss diplomatic support for educational partnerships; and held talks with Ms. Benjawan Pokpong, Director of the Bureau of Cooperation at Thailand’s OVEC, regarding collaboration among ‘Belt and Road’ partner nations. The PMYP (Prime Minister’s Youth Programme) China Secretariat and the Beijing headquarters of the Tang International Education Group will coordinate the implementation of initiatives among the government, academic institutions, and the industrial sector. The Chairman noted that, under the leadership of Prime Minister Muhammad Shehbaz Sharif, the empowerment of youth remains a key government priority—a commitment that advances the vision of a “Skilled, Empowered, and Digital Pakistan.” A “Cross-Border E-Commerce Talent Training Base” was officially unveiled in Beijing, which will provide Pakistani youth with access to the global digital market. Additionally, an “International Nursing Talent Training Base” has been established to meet the growing global demand in the healthcare sector; here, Pakistani paramedical staff will receive training based on modern standards and international benchmarks. A breakthrough was also achieved during the visit regarding ML-1, the largest project under Pakistan Railways. Immediately following highly successful and detailed discussions with the Chairman of the PMYP (Prime Minister’s Youth Programme), Han Hui, Secretary of the China Railway Group, departed for Pakistan accompanied by a high-level delegation. Under this partnership, practical work has commenced on training the Pakistani workforce in the railway sector according to the latest modern standards, as well as providing them with employment opportunities. The Prime Minister’s Youth Program is continuously fostering collaborations with international organizations to provide Pakistani youth with world-class technical training, access to modern technology, and improved employment opportunities. In this regard, Rana Mashhood Ahmed Khan, Chairman of the Prime Minister’s Youth Program, briefed participants at an international conference in Beijing on the ongoing initiatives under the program aimed at advancing youth education, technical training, skill development, and the creation of job opportunities. He highlighted collaborations with prominent Chinese entities—including Huawei and Alibaba—the establishment of a Prime Minister’s Youth Program secretariat in China, and the development of modern training programs tailored to the specific needs of various industries. The conference featured discussions on promoting international cooperation across several sectors, including technical education, trainer development, green energy, electric vehicles, and agriculture. The China-ASEAN Higher Vocational Education Exhibition (CACIE) is a prominent international platform that fosters collaboration in technical, vocational, and higher education between China and the Association of Southeast Asian Nations (ASEAN), along with other key regional partners. The event is hosted at major convention centers across China—such as those in Nanning and Guiyang—and attracts education departments, academic experts, EdTech startups, and industry suppliers from around the globe. The primary objective of the exhibition is to promote digital school transformation, artificial intelligence (AI), the Internet of Things (IoT), and modern educational management practices, ensuring that the workforce in emerging economies is equipped to meet market demands.
For Pakistan, this exhibition has proven to be a major strategic success; the country secured the top position by concluding the highest number of agreements among all participating nations. During a visit to Beijing by Rana Mashhood Ahmed Khan, Chairman of the Prime Minister’s Youth Programme, significant Memorandums of Understanding (MoUs) were signed with leading Chinese educational institutions and the TANG Internet Education Network, focusing on Technical and Vocational Education and Training (TVET). These agreements—involving institutions such as the University of Lahore, Ghazi University, NAVTTC, Preston University, and Punjab TEVTA—aim to provide Pakistani youth with international certifications, advanced skills, and expanded employment opportunities in fields including mechatronics, green energy, e-commerce, and nursing.