Building a Strong Foundation for China–Nepal Good-Neighborly Friendship Through Skills Connectivity

Kathamandu : As China and Nepal continue to deepen their strategic partnership under the framework of the Cross-Himalayan Multi-Dimensional Connectivity Network, bilateral cooperation is steadily expanding beyond traditional infrastructure into human capital development, vocational education, and skills connectivity. In recent years, industry–education integration has emerged as one of the most promising areas of cooperation, reflecting a shared commitment to sustainable development, youth employment, and technological advancement.

Nepal, with its youthful demographic profile and growing demand for skilled manpower, is seeking practical pathways to accelerate industrial modernization and create quality employment opportunities. Meanwhile, China has accumulated extensive experience in vocational education, industrial training, digital transformation, and technology transfer through decades of rapid economic development. The convergence of these complementary strengths offers a new model of cooperation that places people, knowledge, and skills at the center of bilateral relations.

Unlike conventional infrastructure projects that connect countries through roads, railways, and energy networks, industry–education integration builds lasting partnerships by connecting institutions, enterprises, educators, and young professionals. It promotes localized industrial development while strengthening people-to-people exchanges and creating long-term opportunities for shared prosperity.

To better understand the strategic significance, practical opportunities, and future prospects of China–Nepal cooperation in vocational education and industry–education integration, ABC News spoke with Prof. Dr. He Hongmei, Director of the Institute of South Asian Studies at the Yunnan Academy of Social Sciences, China. Drawing upon her extensive research on South Asia and China–Nepal relations, Professor He explains how skills connectivity can become a new pillar of bilateral friendship and contribute to Nepal’s sustainable development.

Q. In recent years, China–Nepal cooperation has increasingly emphasized vocational education and technology transfer, with industry–education integration becoming a new highlight of bilateral cooperation. From your research perspective, what profound significance does this new model of cooperation have for consolidating the long-term friendship between China and Nepal?

Prof. Dr. He Hongmei: The enduring friendship between China and Nepal is entering a new phase through industry–education integration.

For many years, bilateral cooperation focused primarily on roads, bridges, hydropower projects, and other physical infrastructure, creating stronger connectivity across the Himalayas. Today, vocational education, technical training, and industry–education integration represent an equally important form of soft connectivity—one that connects people, knowledge, professional skills, and innovation.

Nepal possesses one of South Asia’s youngest and most energetic populations, while China has accumulated rich experience in industrial upgrading, technological innovation, vocational education, and workforce development. These complementary advantages create tremendous opportunities for mutually beneficial cooperation.

More importantly, this partnership goes beyond technology transfer. It enables Nepalese youth to acquire practical skills, secure better employment opportunities, and improve their livelihoods. At the same time, it extends China–Nepal friendship from major infrastructure projects to communities, educational institutions, and ordinary families.

Ultimately, people-centered cooperation strengthens the social foundation of bilateral relations and ensures that China–Nepal friendship remains sustainable, inclusive, and beneficial for future generations.

Q. Considering Nepal’s current industrial landscape and existing China–Nepal cooperation mechanisms, which sectors are most suitable for industry–education integration and joint skills-training programs? Which areas hold the greatest long-term potential?

Prof. Dr. He Hongmei: China and Nepal enjoy highly complementary industrial structures and resource endowments. Several sectors possess enormous potential for vocational education cooperation and technical training.

First, green transportation.

Nepal is rapidly expanding the use of electric vehicles. This transformation creates growing demand for technicians specializing in EV maintenance, charging infrastructure, battery management, and intelligent transportation systems. Through partnerships between educational institutions and enterprises, China and Nepal can jointly establish practical training centers that prepare skilled professionals for Nepal’s emerging green mobility sector.

Second, the digital economy and entrepreneurship.

China has developed one of the world’s most mature digital ecosystems, covering e-commerce, mobile payment systems, digital logistics, cloud services, and online business management.

By organizing vocational courses, digital entrepreneurship programs, and technical exchanges, China can assist Nepalese micro, small, and medium-sized enterprises in embracing digital transformation. Such cooperation can strengthen grassroots entrepreneurship, improve market access, and stimulate local economic vitality.

Third, modern mountain agriculture.

Agriculture remains central to Nepal’s economy, but mountainous geography continues to limit productivity. China’s experience in greenhouse cultivation, mountain agricultural mechanization, agricultural processing, and cold-chain logistics aligns well with Nepal’s development needs.

Through demonstration farms, technical training, and field-based education, farmers can increase productivity, diversify agricultural products, improve processing capacity, and expand domestic and international market opportunities.

Beyond these priority sectors, future cooperation can gradually expand into tourism management, traditional handicraft modernization, hospitality services, renewable energy operation and maintenance, and rural industrial development according to Nepal’s regional characteristics and development priorities.

Q. From the perspectives of talent mobility and industrial collaboration, how do you assess the long-term prospects of China–Nepal industry–education integration? What are your expectations for future cooperation?

Prof. Dr. He Hongmei:I believe the future prospects are extremely promising because both countries possess highly complementary strengths.

My first expectation is that both sides will continue improving Nepal’s vocational education system by establishing more specialized industrial training centers that respond directly to local development needs.

These centers should prioritize sectors closely connected to people’s livelihoods—such as green transportation, mountain agriculture, digital technology, and modern services—while ensuring that training opportunities reach not only major cities but also rural communities and remote mountainous areas.

Second, I hope China and Nepal will institutionalize long-term cooperation mechanisms involving universities, vocational institutes, enterprises, industry associations, and youth organizations.

Regular faculty exchanges, student mobility programs, vocational skills competitions, technical workshops, entrepreneurship initiatives, and joint research projects will strengthen talent mobility while deepening people-to-people exchanges.

From a broader perspective, industry–education integration is not simply about transferring equipment or technology. Its greater value lies in helping Nepal gradually develop indigenous industrial capabilities and cultivate a highly skilled local workforce capable of supporting long-term economic transformation.

Through sustained talent development, practical cooperation, and localized industrial upgrading, China and Nepal can build a mutually beneficial development partnership that serves both countries.

As vocational education cooperation continues to expand, bilateral collaboration will become increasingly diversified and resilient. Skills training, technology transfer, and workforce development will strengthen Nepal’s industrial foundation, improve employment opportunities for young people, enhance social welfare, and contribute to sustainable economic growth.

Most importantly, this people-centered approach will continue reinforcing the public support that underpins China–Nepal friendship, ensuring that bilateral cooperation remains inclusive, mutually beneficial, and firmly rooted in the shared aspirations of both peoples.

Prof. Dr. He Hongmei, Director, Institute of South Asian Studies Yunnan Academy of Social Sciences (YASS), China