China's Luban Workshops Expand in Central Asia, Focusing on Vocational Training
China's Confucius Institute is expanding its Luban Workshops across Asia, focusing on vocational training and skill development. With a presence in Kazakhstan and Tajikistan, and more planned, these workshops aim to reshape China's image and foster cooperation.
The Luban Workshops, named after the famous Chinese architect Lu Ban, focus on high-demand skills in fields like AI, logistics, and electric vehicle maintenance. In Kazakhstan, three workshops have been unveiled, with two more under construction, each tailored to the country's priorities. Similarly, in Tajikistan, over 1,500 students have benefited from courses on surveying and urban infrastructure at the first Luban Workshop in Dushanbe.
In Kyrgyzstan, the Luban Workshop in Bishkek concentrates on hydropower and road construction, addressing national development bottlenecks. Further afield, a new Luban Workshop is planned at the Yagshygeldi Kakayev International Oil and Gas University in Turkmenistan, focusing on energy. Beijing is adapting its global engagement strategy, combining investment with education and infrastructure with human capital development.
The Luban Workshops aim to convert resentment into cooperation, shifting the public focus from controversial megaprojects to human development and higher-value investments. By promoting its technologies and offering in-demand skills, China seeks to recast itself as a pragmatic partner in Central Asia, improving its image while serving its economic interests.
Read also:
- India's Sports Revolution: Bhubaneswar, Chennai, and Ahmedabad Pioneering Nation's Athletic Makeover
- ArcelorMittal & Rock Tech Team Up to Boost Brandenburg's Industry
- Greece Battles Third Heatwave This Week, Temperatures Soar to 43°C
- Maximizing LEED Green Associate points for new construction projects to attain LEED Neighborhood Development Platinum certification in the United States Green Building Council (USGBC)
