From September 25 to 29, the fourth Global Digital Trade Expo (GDTE) was held at the Hangzhou Grand Convention and Exhibition Center. As China’s only national-level, international, and professional exhibition dedicated to digital trade, the expo was co-hosted by the People’s Government of Zhejiang Province and the Ministry of Commerce of the People’s Republic of China, and jointly organized by the Hangzhou Municipal People’s Government, the Department of Commerce of Zhejiang Province, and the Bureau of Foreign Trade Development Affairs of the Ministry of Commerce. With the theme “Witness the Innovative Future at the Global Digital Trade Expo”, this year’s event adopted a six-in-one model integrating exhibitions, conferences, competitions, rankings, investment and financing, and special committees. It attracted exhibitors and participants from 154 countries and regions.

On the afternoon of September 27, the African Digital Trade Day— China-Africa Industrial Park Cooperation Matchmaking Conference, co-hosted by the People’s Government of Qiantang District, the Hangzhou Municipal Bureau of Commerce and the Hangzhou Committee of the China Zhi Gong Party, was held in Qiantang, Hangzhou, East China’s Zhejiang province. Wang Yan, Vice President of Zhejiang Industry & Trade Vocational College (ZJITC), was invited to attend the conference and participated in the round-table discussion session. He briefly introduced the college’s development and its efforts to support enterprises in their expanding into African market. Wang shared his insights on how to cooperate with enterprises to cultivate the talents that they need. He outlined five key initiatives. Firstly, conduct demand-based research. ZJITC thoroughly investigates and understands the diverse demands for technical and managerial personnel among Chinese enterprises operating in Africa as well as across the industrial and social sectors of African countries and regions. Secondly, customize training programs. The college develops tailored training schemes for full-time and part-time students respectively, to strengthen the Chinese language proficiency, professional skills, and deepen their understanding of China, especially its culture. Thirdly, build training platforms. By taking its collaboration with Chinese enterprises in South Africa and Zimbabwe for example, ZJITC establishes platforms such as the School of China-South Africa Digital Technology and the Center for Chinese Language and professional skills in Tsingshan Dinson to cultivate talents required by enterprises. Fourthly, promote the “Park-School-Park” model of industry-education integration. Centering on the college, ZJITC cooperates with enterprises operating Africa-focused industrial parks in China and overseas industrial bases, including Wepon Group, to forge an internationalized learning-by-doing approach, enhancing the international students’ practical abilities and employment competitiveness. Fifthly, foster entrepreneurship. Recognizing Africa as a “blue ocean”, one of the world’s last major emerging markets, the college leverages China’s innovation and entrepreneurship experience, as well as its own strengths in this field, to support African youth to start their own businesses.

On the afternoon of September 28, the conference themed “Collaborating with Universities — Fostering Digital Trade Talent’s International Cooperation” was held at the Hangzhou Grand Convention and Exhibition Center. The event was hosted by the People’s Government of Zhejiang Province, with co-organization by the provincial Departments of Commerce, Education, and Human Resources and Social Security. Vice President of Wang Yan, together with representatives from the U.S. Gateway Technical College and the North Carolina Education Alliance, attended the conference. A series of high-level international cooperation projects were launched during the event, standing out as the major highlights. As one of the signing parties, ZJITC, represented by Wang Yan, signed an agreement with Gateway to jointly establish the “Gateway Institute of Engineering and Technology at ZJITC (Preparatory)”, a China-foreign joint education institution.

Representatives from the International Cooperation and Exchange Office and other relevant departments accompanied the delegation to attend the conference.