Xi stresses development of modern vocational education system

Students have a training class on auto repairing at a vocational school in Xiji County, northwest China's Ningxia Hui Autonomous Region, Sept. 16, 2020. (Xinhua/Wang Peng)

BEIJING, April 13 (Xinhua) -- Chinese President Xi Jinping has called for efforts to speed up the development of the modern vocational education system and cultivate more high-quality technical professionals.

Xi, also general secretary of the Communist Party of China (CPC) Central Committee and chairman of the Central Military Commission, made the remarks in an instruction on improving the country's vocational education.

Vocational education has a promising future and great potential as China journeys toward socialist modernization, Xi said.

Xi stressed the need to reform training and schooling modes as well as management and support mechanisms related to vocational education.

He called for promoting bachelor-level vocational education and bringing about a number of quality vocational education institutions and programs.

Party committees and government departments at various levels are urged to further innovate relevant institutions and enhance policy support and investment to see that fine workmanship is promoted and that the social status of technical professionals improves.

In doing so, strong talent and skill support can be provided for the building of a modern socialist China and the realization of the Chinese Dream of national rejuvenation, Xi said.

The building of the high-level technical professional training system should focus on the country's modernization drive and high-quality development, Premier Li Keqiang, a member of the Standing Committee of the Political Bureau of the CPC Central Committee, said in another instruction on vocational education.

Aiming at the forefront of technological change and industrial upgrading, more efforts are needed to promote integration between industry and education and cooperation between schools and enterprises, and attract more young people to receive vocational education, Li said.

A national conference on vocational education was held in Beijing from Monday to Tuesday, during which the instructions of Xi and Li were delivered.

Vice Premier Sun Chunlan, a member of the Political Bureau of the CPC Central Committee, attended the conference. She called for an integrated vocational education system covering different levels, better treatment and promotion opportunities for skilled professionals.