Cultural performance at the launch ceremony of the Jiangsu leg of the China-ASEAN Year of People-to-People Exchanges. [Photo/chinadaily.com.cn]

The Jiangsu leg of the China-ASEAN Year of People-to-People Exchanges kicked off at Jiangsu Shipping College in Nantong on April 10, marking the opening of the conference focusing on vocational education between the two places.

Representatives from Nantong Vocational University, Jiangsu College of Engineering and Technology, and Jiangsu Shipping College discussed their contributions to international cooperation at the conference.

The conference also witnessed the inauguration of a teacher training center for ASEAN countries and the signing ceremony of the cooperation agreements on the integration of vocational education with industry between Nantong and ASEAN.

The Sihanoukville Special Economic Zone (SEZ) in Cambodia and China-Singapore Suzhou Industrial Park (SIP) jointly established by Jiangsu and ASEAN countries have greatly boosted local development. To date, SEZ has introduced 188 enterprises and institutions from around the world and created about 30,000 jobs for locals.

With ASEAN ranking as the largest trade partner of Jiangsu, both sides traded nearly $115.76 billion last year. They also boast close people-to-people exchanges in the fields of education, medicine, culture, and tourism.

Jiangsu maintains a sound foundation in educational cooperation with ASEAN countries, according to Xu Zimin, the first-class inspector at the Jiangsu Provincial Department of Education.

From 2022 to 2023, 6,623 students from ASEAN countries studied in Jiangsu, accounting for one fourth of the total international students in the province. Meanwhile, Jiangsu has established nearly 60 educational institutions in these countries.

Xu also noted that Jiangsu is an important base for ASEAN countries to train their talent. Last week, the province offered Chinese and vocational training courses to 1,254 students from ASEAN countries.

Phakhansith Phomchaleun, Laos' acting consul general in Shanghai, said at the ceremony that Laos highly values the China-ASEAN Year of People-to-People Exchanges, believing that it represents a significant move to enhance the relations between ASEAN and China and promote their comprehensive strategic partnership.

The activities will further facilitate the economic and cultural exchanges between Laos and Jiangsu and create a platform for young people from the countries involved in the Belt and Road Initiative to further their friendship, he added.