Shanghai:Malaysia emphasized its leadership in skills development and green workforce readiness at the WorldSkills Shanghai 2026 Conference, highlighting its commitment to advancing technical and vocational excellence.

According to BERNAMA News Agency, Prime Minister Datuk Seri Anwar Ibrahim announced Malaysia's new role in leading the regional green jobs agenda following the ASEAN Plus Three Labour Ministers Meeting in Bangkok. This leadership role focuses on preparing regional workforces for greener economies from 2026 to 2030.

During his address at the conference's opening plenary at the National Exhibition and Convention Centre, Anwar also discussed Malaysia's efforts in championing the cross-border recognition of technical certificates and the pilot of an ASEAN Digital Skills Passport that links certified training records across the region.

Anwar, who also serves as Malaysia's Finance Minister, mentioned the National Semiconductor Strategy, which aims for over RM500 billion in investment by 2030 and plans to train and upskill 60,000 Malaysian engineers. He emphasized that investment in Malaysia flourishes due to the availability of skills.

The conference in Shanghai has attracted about 1,400 skilled young individuals from over 65 countries, competing in 64 skill categories. Malaysia is represented by 22 young competitors in 21 skill areas.

Prime Minister Anwar arrived in Shanghai on a three-day working visit and is scheduled to travel to Hangzhou for the next part of his visit. There, he will hold meetings with tech companies such as AgiBot, Huawei, and Alibaba Group, as well as automotive company Geely and ZTE Group. He will also attend a dinner hosted by Chinese Premier Li Qiang and launch a Mandarin-translated book titled "Rethinking Ourselves: Justice, Reform, and Ignorance in Post Normal Times."

China has been Malaysia's largest trading partner for 17 consecutive years, with bilateral trade reaching US$113.82 billion from January to August this year.