International officials have commended China for its remarkable technological advancements and for its commitment to ensuring these high-tech developments bring common good to all of humanity after attending the 2024 World Internet Conference (WIC) Wuzhen Summit in east China's Zhejiang Province.
The 11th edition of the WIC Wuzhen Summit concluded on Friday after gathering global tech leaders, industry experts and policymakers to help shape the future of the digital landscape.
At the "Light of the Internet" expo, the latest AI technologies went on display, showcasing their impact on everyday life. Visitors were able to interact with various humanoid robots, try out AI-powered rehabilitation systems, or even receive traditional Chinese medicine diagnoses and treatment advice with smart devices.
Zambian Vice President Mutale Nalumango said she was amazed by the trail of innovations which took center stage at the event, and which will likely play a key role across multiple sectors in the years to come.
"I was very impressed with the usage of the artificial intelligence in the area of health and just other innovations. I saw an operation on the brain that is really something good, some innovation, some transformative ideas that are coming and changing the entire world and the way we do things," she said in an interview with the Zhejiang International Communication Center (ZICC) on Thursday.
She gave credit to China for its efforts to embrace cutting-edge technologies while not leaving others behind.
"The significance of the Wuzhen summit is that it brings in all the people together. That is great cooperation, that is collaboration, that is sharing that which is available for humanity. This is very significant for us as Zambia. This revolution in the artificial intelligence should not leave anyone behind. China is ready to embrace the artificial intelligence, move together, bring equity in the development, collaborate for the purpose of the human well-being," said Nalumango.
Meanwhile, Renato Florentino, the third vice president of Honduras, also gave a thumbs up to China for its technological leap and said his country is happy to have established ties with China.
"I am impressed with what I have seen today with so much technology in the future and what is already being exercised today. So, I am very impressed with the technological development that our sister [country of] China is carrying out in favor of humanity. [I'd like to] tell the brothers from China that their brothers from Honduras are very happy to have initiated diplomatic relations since 2023 and we hope that this will continue forever, as two brother countries we will lift our people out of underdevelopment," he said in another interview with ZICC.
The three-day WIC Wuzhen Summit was themed "Embracing a People-centered and AI-for-good Digital Future -- Building a Community with a Shared Future in Cyberspace," and featured 24 sub-forums which delved into a wide range of topics, allowing participants to exchange ideas about how to shape the digital future.
Int'l officials hail China's tech advancements, commitment to benefiting all of humanity
The 2024 World Vocational and Technical Education Development Conference opened on Thursday in north China's Tianjin Municipality.
Chinese Minister of Education Huai Jinpeng addressed the conference, saying vocational education should align with the trends of the times and the essence of education, maintain its distinctive characteristics, and be inclusive, industry-oriented, innovative, intelligent and international.
Themed "Innovation Empowers the Future, Skills Enlighten New Life", the two-day event is attended by guests from over 100 countries and regions, including government officials, diplomatic envoys, and personnel from international organizations and educational institutes.
"Delegation from Tajikistan is taking part in the World Vocational and Technical Educational Development Conference. And the main purpose of our delegation, the main purpose of Tajik universities, especially International University of Tourism and Entrepreneurship of Tajikistan, is collaboration with Chinese universities in the part of student exchange programs, professional development of professors and teaching staff. And also collaboration in the field of realizing the projects, investment projects within universities," said Asrorzoda Ubaydullo, rector of International University of Tourism and Entrepreneurship of Tajikistan.
The confernce witnessed the establishment of the World Technical and Vocational Education and Training League, a vocational education cooperation organization aiming to provide the most comprehensive, balanced, representative and inclusive international platform for vocational education.
It also features the finals of the World Vocational College Skills Competition and parallel meetings on topics including the coordination between enterprises and colleges in vocational training, the role of vocational education in global sustainable development, and the occupation development of vocational education teachers.
The competition has been upgraded to an international level, drawing over 29,000 participants from 74 countries to compete in 42 categories of occupations and technologies, such as AI health management and new energy vehicles.
"It's very vibrant. It's a very vital issue for the modern economy. New technologies, health care, a lot of them are non-university qualifications, but really critical. So for a lot of school leaders, there's a lot of opportunities. And we have found that the joint programs with Australian providers have been very popular. But also, more broadly, it's really to help enlighten, like the [conference] theme, empowering knowledge," said Martin Riordan, managing director of University of Melbourne.
China has established the world's largest vocational education system, with over 11,000 institutions producing over 70 percent of new workers in key industries, including advanced manufacturing and modern services, according to data from the Ministry of Education.
This source of expertise is also going beyond China's borders, as the country's vocational education partnerships are expanding with ASEAN, Africa, Central Asia, and Europe.
World vocational, technical education development conference opens in Tianjin
