Earlier this afternoon, Skills Minister Jacqui Smith spoke at a
Parliamentary reception to congratulate WorldSkills UK on their
best result since 2017 in the recent international competition in
Shanghai. She also confirmed the date of a UK-China Summit on
education.
Please see below for some extracts from her speech, as well as
some background briefing points.
--
Speaking at the event, Skills Minister Jacqui Smith
said:
"...Shanghai also highlighted the importance of international
collaboration and learning.
"And I'm pleased that we are going to be able to continue this
collaboration with China following that recent visit. There'll be
a UK-China Education Summit on the 24 and 25 November 2026 in
Beijing, to continue the ministerial dialogue that I began with
my counterparts whilst in Beijing and Shanghai.
"International engagement of this kind helps strengthen
educational partnerships, share expertise, and create
opportunities for future collaboration..."
Briefing points:
- The Minister's full speech is available here: Skills Minister Jacqui
Smith speech at Parliamentary reception for WorldSkills UK -
GOV.UK
- The next UK-China Education Summit is planned for 24-25
November 2026 in Beijing. This will be the first education summit
in 8 years.
- An education summit provides a unique opportunity to showcase
the UK's world-leading education system. It is also an
opportunity for us to be open and forthright on issues that
matter to us, including freedom of speech, values, and human
rights, while ensuring that we continue to collaborate on areas
of mutual interest.
- This Government fully recognises that China poses a series of
threats to UK national security and we will not hesitate to act
to protect the UK. It is right, however, that we engage with
China where there are clear UK and global interests. Indeed, this
engagement enables us to raise the issues of greatest concern to
the UK.
- The announcement follows Minister Smith's trip to China,
where she met with Ren Youqun, China's Vice Minister of
Education, and supported Team UK at WorldSkills in Shanghai last
month. The UK won 19 medals across 25 skills entered, including
golds in chemical laboratory technician and refrigeration and air
conditioning. This represents Team UK's strongest performance
since WorldSkills Abu Dhabi in 2017. The event highlighted the
importance of international collaboration and learning, which
this government will continue to foster through this joint
summit.
- Education is a powerful tool for global engagement, with
partnerships making significant economic and social
contributions, and is a particular area that China cares about.
Dialogue at Ministerial level with China allows us to discuss the
issues where we do not agree, as well as strengthen collaboration
in areas where we agree and can collaborate.
- Through the International Education Strategy we are backing
UK education providers who want to meet growing global demand for
British education overseas strengthening businesses and learning
at home while supporting jobs and spreading world-class standards
internationally.
- China is a key area in our International Education Strategy
as we work to grow the value of education exports to £40 billion
a year by 2030 the total education market value in China was
estimated at £426.57 billion GBP in 2023 and Chinese students
contribute an estimated £5.4bn annually to the UK
economy. More than one million alumni of UK universities now
live and work in China, more than in any other country.
- Ministerial travel will be announced in due course in the
usual way.
- The UK Government Department for Business, Innovation,
Science and Trade will this week share an Expression of Interest
form for senior representatives of the UK education sector to
join the official delegation.
