When you enter the campus of Ruili Vocational Middle School, Burmese students in brand - new school uniforms are concentrating on listening to the teacher's explanation of the auto repair professional courses. They are listening intently to the teacher's explanation of each part of the car and maintenance skills, with their eyes full of eagerness for knowledge. In the jade carving classroom, international students are gathered around experienced seniors, carefully watching every step of the jade carving technique and learning how to use each tool, and making exclamations from time to time.

“It's quite good to come to Ruili to study. The teachers take good care of us, and the classmates are easy to get along with. We've taken courses in jade carving, auto repair, and cooking these days. It all feels great and very relaxing. I believe I can learn a skill in Ruili.” said Yiweiao, a student from Namkham, Burma, happily.

Guided by the “Belt and Road” education cooperation initiative, Ruili City, relying on its unique geographical advantage of border development and opening - up, actively explores a new model of “vocational education going global”. In October 2024, Ruili Vocational Middle School signed the “China - Myanmar Vocational Education Joint School - running Cooperation Agreement” with three institutions, namely, Anbang Training School in Naypyidaw, Myanmar, Yangon Vocational and Technical College in Myanmar, and Fuqing School in Mandalay, Myanmar. It introduced Yunnan Sanhao Education Group to build a production - education integration training base for “Fashion Design and Technology”. At the same time, it carried out online publicity and enrollment work for dozens of schools in Muse, Namkham and other places in Myanmar. Combining with the market demand for bilateral industrial development between China and Myanmar, it plans to open majors such as Fashion Design and Technology, Tourism Foreign Languages (Burmese), E - commerce, and Automobile Application and Maintenance to Burmese international students.

“On March 10th, we welcomed the first batch of 10 international students. This enrollment relies on the innovative model of 'the government provides the platform, and schools and enterprises work together'. Local key enterprises participate in the whole process of talent cultivation. The students' tuition fees and accommodation fees are all waived. Daily necessities such as school uniforms and bedding are donated by the enterprises. Those with excellent academic performance and good conduct can also receive special scholarships every year. From the moment they step into the school gate, the children sign employment intention agreements with the enterprises, truly realizing 'entering school means starting work'. ” introduced Li Wenbo, the vice - principal of Ruili Vocational Middle School.

It is reported that the first - batch of enrolled international students will focus on the major of Fashion Design and Technology and will mainly serve the construction of Ruili's border industrial park in the future. The school will jointly build a “classroom + workshop” teaching model with leading enterprises, allowing international students to systematically learn Chinese and various professional skills here. Technical backbones of the enterprises will teach at the school regularly, and students will go to the training bases of cooperative enterprises for practical operations every semester to further improve their professional abilities. This education model of “Chinese + vocational skills” enables international students to integrate into the campus more quickly and better adapt to the development and construction of Ruili's border industrial park.

“We not only teach skills but also cultivate compound talents who understand languages, rules, and can innovate.” said Yong Chengpeng, the person - in - charge of Yunnan Sanhao Education Management Group.

As of now, about 1,500 Burmese students have inquired about the enrollment policy, and 101 of them have reached an enrollment intention. After the first - batch of students entered the school, the second batch of 25 students from Yangon, Myanmar, will step into the campus one after another from March 25th to 28th. In 2025, Ruili Vocational Middle School will set an enrollment target of 1,000 international students, vigorously promote itself in Myanmar, and continue to cooperate with schools in Myanmar to jointly cultivate vocational and technical talents.

　　The arrival of international students has built a new bridge for the exchange and cooperation between China and Myanmar in the fields of education, culture and other areas, and laid a solid foundation for promoting friendly cooperation between China and Myanmar and promoting regional prosperity and development.

　　When the bell rang for the end of class, the campus suddenly became lively. They walked out of the classroom with their classmates around them, had meals in the canteen together, and played on the playground together. The laughter echoed on the campus.

　　The seeds of China - Myanmar friendship in the new era are germinating. International students will learn knowledge and skills in a foreign land, harvest precious friendship, and lay a solid foundation for the future. Meanwhile, Ruili City will start a new chapter of the "Paukphaw" friendship in the new era with the practice of integrating industry and education.

　　Reporters from Yunnan Net: Yang Zhihui; Reporters from Ruili Media Integration Center: Zheng Jie, Zhang Legan, Li Yuanpeng