Kenyan President William Ruto has applauded China's growing role in Africa's vocational education and talent development, calling the collaboration a vital driver of progress across the continent.
Africa, home to the world's youngest population and rapidly expanding workforce, continues to attract global attention for its development potential. China has responded by deepening cooperation through initiatives such as the Luban Workshops -- 17 of which have been established across Africa -- alongside continent-wide vocational skills competitions and training programs.
In an exclusive interview with China Central Television (CCTV) in Beijing, broadcast on May 23, Ruto highlighted the significance of these efforts, especially in building human capital to support Africa's industrialization and future growth.
"We have had 4,000 scholarships of Kenyans coming to study in China. We have collaborations between different actors to build the human capital of our continent, using various interventions that would help build a body of technocrats and expertise around Africa that would support our own industrialization and would support the progress that we envisage of our continent going into the future," he said.
"And therefore, the collaboration between China and Africa, especially on the people-to-people issues, including the talent development, is an excellent, in my very honest assessment, is an excellent intervention that will give us results in the not-so-distant future," said Ruto.
In a symbolic gesture underscoring global interdependence, President Ruto was presented with a Luban Lock, a traditional Chinese puzzle named after the legendary craftsman Luban, after whom the workshops are also named. The lock's structure, which collapses if any piece is removed, serves as a metaphor for unity and the indispensable roles each member of the global community plays.
"Wonderful. I mean, it just speaks to the unity of purpose and the people working together for a win-win outcome," said the Kenyan president.
Kenyan president praises China-Africa skills partnership
