Gansu Province, China, a member government of NEAR, submitted an official document to the NEAR Secretariat on Wednesday, 8 April, applying to establish the Sub-committee on Vocational Education. The application for the establishment of the sub-committee by Gansu Province is scheduled to undergo prior consent from member governments in May and will be finalized at the NEAR High-Level Working Committee to be held in the Republic of Buryatia, Russia, from June 18 to 20.
Since joining as a full member of NEAR in 2023, Gansu Province has actively participated in the association's activities. If the Sub-committee on Vocational Education is approved, the province plans to promote various cooperative projects through regular sub-committee meetings, such as vocational education development forums, expert exchanges, competitions for young technicians, and short-term training and exchange programs. Accordingly, it is expected that the foundation for cooperation in the field of vocational education among NEAR member governments will expand.
NEAR Sub-committees serve as representative platforms for promoting practical cooperation among member governments. Currently, a total of 17 sub-committees (China 9, Korea 2, Japan 3, Russia 3) are in operation, covering fields such as Traditional Medicine, Tourism, Maritime & Fisheries, Youth Policy, Education & Culture, and Environment. If Gansu Province's application is approved, the number of NEAR sub-committees will increase to 18.
The NEAR Secretariat plans to actively support the Sub-committee on Vocational Education of Gansu Province so that it can establish itself as a leading sub-committee that promotes multilateral exchanges and creates practical results among member governments.