From March 18th to 27th, 2024, Deputy Party Secretary Hou Zongyi was invited to participate in the "China-ASEAN Vocational Education Cooperation Mission" to Singapore, Brunei, and Malaysia, organized by the Department of International Cooperation and Exchange of the Ministry of Education of China and the China Education Association for International Exchange. The 10-day visit aimed to further strengthen exchanges and cooperation between us and institutions in ASEAN countries as well as Chinese enterprises "going out," promote pragmatic cooperation in vocational education in ASEAN, and align cooperation needs.
During his visit to Singapore, Hou Zongyi visited Nanyang Polytechnic and Singapore Polytechnic, where he gained insights into the development of vocational education in Singapore. He introduced the overview of the representatives of the two institutions and listened to their introductions of their basic educational operations. Both sides agreed that through continuous cooperation and exchanges, they could jointly explore innovative models of vocational education, cultivate more highly skilled technical talents for industrial development in both countries and even the region, and open up new paths for international cooperation in vocational education. Hou Zongyi also participated in the 2024 International Industrial Cooperation Conference and China Electromechanical Products Brand Exhibition, where he discussed topics such as how to further focus on the planning and layout adjustment of international production capacity cooperation, focus on regional and local development needs and distinctive advantages, and jointly build an international industry-education integration community.
During his visit to Brunei, Hou Zongyi visited Politeknik Brunei, accompanied by Director Wu Jiong of the Political Section of the Chinese Embassy in Brunei and Third Secretary Xu Chu. The team was warmly received by Mr. Lin Jianwen, Acting Director of Politeknik Brunei, among others. Hou Zongyi had in-depth exchanges with the college administration, exploring the possibilities and directions for vocational education cooperation. Politeknik Brunei, as a polytechnic with rich international exchange experience, and China's cooperation potential in the field of vocational education were highly evaluated by both sides. Hou Zongyi presented our promotional materials and souvenirs to Mr. Lin Jianwen, Acting Director of Politeknik Brunei, looking forward to further strengthening exchanges and cooperation between the two sides. In addition, the mission visited the Southeast Asian Ministers of Education Organization Regional Centre for Vocational and Technical Education (SEAMEO VOCTECH) for research and exchanged views with Mr. Haji Norjemee bin Jenek, Director of the Brunei Regional Centre, on vocational and technical education cooperation, outlining the broad prospects for future cooperation. Furthermore, at the invitation of the Brunei-China Friendship Association, the mission attended the Iftar Dinner at Hassanal Bolkiah Mosque (Jame' Asr Hassanal Bolkiah Mosque) in Brunei, where Ambassador Xiao Jianguo to Brunei and Brunei's Minister of Religious Affairs Pehin Udaya Badara'uddin bin Haji Dato Paduka Seri Setia Awang Haji met them.
During his visit to Malaysia, Hou Zongyi visited University Kuala Lumpur, Sultan Salahuddin Abdul Aziz Polytechnic, and Selangor Community College. At the exchange seminars with the three institutions, Hou Zongyi introduced the overall situation of our college and expressed his hope to explore high-quality international cooperation models in higher education and conduct close talent training and industry-education cooperation with Malaysian institutions. In addition, Hou Zongyi had in-depth exchanges with the three institutions on how to promote the high-quality development of vocational education, aiming to deeply align the needs for industry-education integration cooperation between China and Malaysia and explore cooperation opportunities between us and Malaysian vocational institutions.
Through this mission, we established contact with multiple institutions in Singapore, Brunei, and Malaysia, not only deepening mutual understanding of the current status and needs of vocational education development but also laying a solid foundation for future cooperation projects and exchange activities. At the same time, this visit further promoted our important initiatives for international exchanges and cooperation in the new era, expressing its willingness to cooperate, integrate, embrace openness and inclusiveness, and exchange mutual learning, injecting new and strong impetus into deepening cooperation between us and the three countries.
Deputy Party Secretary Hou Zongyi presents a calligraphic scroll
Visit to a mosque
Group photo
