Beijing:Deputy Prime Minister Datuk Seri Dr Ahmad Zahid Hamidi is set to embark on a five-day working visit to China starting tomorrow, aiming to bolster bilateral relations, particularly in trade, investment, technology, and Technical and Vocational Education and Training (TVET).
According to BERNAMA News Agency, the visit, scheduled from October 12 to 16, will involve a series of meetings with Chinese government leaders in Beijing. Ahmad Zahid, who also serves as the Rural and Regional Development Minister, will then proceed to Tianjin to participate in the World Vocational and Technical Education Development Conference (WVTEDC) 2026.
The agenda in Beijing includes a bilateral meeting with Chinese Vice-Premier Ding Xuexiang, followed by discussions with Public Security Minister Wang Xiaohong and engagements with trade companies to explore economic cooperation opportunities. The meeting with Vice-Premier Ding, set for October 15 at the Great Hall of the People, will focus on strengthening existing collaboration and exploring new avenues in investment, technology, and human capital development, including TVET.
Cooperation under the Belt and Road Initiative (BRI) will also feature prominently in the discussions, covering infrastructure, artificial intelligence, the digital economy, telecommunications, trade, renewable energy, and science and technology. These talks are expected to build on matters discussed during Prime Minister Datuk Seri Anwar Ibrahim's recent visit to China, further enhancing the Malaysia-China Comprehensive Strategic Partnership.
In Tianjin, Ahmad Zahid is scheduled to attend a dinner hosted by Chinese Education Minister Huai Jinpeng and deliver a keynote address at the WVTEDC 2026 opening session on October 16. As the National TVET Council chairman, he is anticipated to be the highest-ranking foreign government representative at the conference, which will feature participation from over 100 countries.
Malaysia's involvement in the conference is expected to provide opportunities for sharing best practices, fostering cooperation between educational and training institutions, and strengthening industry ties between Malaysia and China. Previously, Ahmad Zahid had sought Chinese cooperation in training Malaysian TVET students during his visit to Shanghai last year.
This visit marks Ahmad Zahid's third trip to China since becoming Deputy Prime Minister in December 2022. He will be accompanied by senior officials from the Foreign Ministry, Rural and Regional Development Ministry, Higher Education Ministry, and the National TVET Council secretariat. Malaysia-China trade for the January-August 2026 period rose 35.1 percent to RM456.68 billion compared to the same period last year.