On the morning of September 29, the opening ceremony for Jamaica Seminar on Labor and Social Security Policy Planning and Implementation was held at the Caobao Road Campus. The seminar is sponsored by the Ministry of Commerce and organized by MOFCOM Training Base for International Business Officials (Shanghai) of SBS. Chen Wei, Secretary of the Directly-Affiliated Party Branch of the School of International Education from SBS, and Associate Professor Tao Li from the School of Management at Shanghai University attended and addressed the ceremony.
(Scene of the opening ceremony)
Since establishing diplomatic relations in 1972, China and Jamaica have consistently upheld the principles of mutual respect, equality, and mutual benefit. Bilateral relations have continued to develop positively across various fields, serving as a model of friendly exchanges among developing countries. Currently, the global labor market faces common challenges such as population aging, adjustments in employment structures, and the impact of new business models. Consequently, improving labor and social security systems has become a shared priority for nations worldwide. This seminar constitutes a concrete step by China and Jamaica to deepen international human resources development cooperation and implement the principle of “sincerity, real results, amity and good faith”. It also establishes a professional platform for policy dialogue and experience sharing in the field of labor and social security, supporting Jamaica in enhancing its governance capabilities in these relevant areas.
(Chen Wei delivering a speech)
Chen Wei stated that labor and social security are fundamental systems for improving people’s livelihoods, safeguarding social equity, and enhancing public welfare. They are directly linked to the basic subsistence and quality of life of all societal members and perform a significant income redistribution function. China has always placed great importance on building its labor and social security system, promoting it steadily as a fundamental project for improving people’s welfare since the reform and opening-up policy was implemented. He expressed his hope that the participants would treasure this valuable learning opportunity, which could open new avenues for complementary advantages and open development between China and Jamaica, thereby creating new opportunities for enhancing the well-being of both peoples.
(Tao Li delivering a speech)
Tao Li remarked that through prolonged exploration in the field of labor and social security, China has accumulated practical experience suited to its national conditions and achieved notable successes. She hoped the participants would gain insights from China’s research findings and practical case studies in this area, comprehending China’s approach from the top-level design of the social security system down to the details of grassroots implementation. This would help them identify strategies to address their own country’s challenges like population aging and formulate measures to support new forms of employment, ultimately enhancing their professional expertise and practical skills in this domain.
(The representative delivering a speech)
The participant representative, Ms. Valencia Brunhilde Carter, Human Resource Management Director from the Jamaican Ministry of Labor, first conveyed sincere gratitude on behalf of all Jamaican participants to the staff involved in organizing the seminar. She then expressed her anticipation for the exchange of technical knowledge during the seminar. She voiced her hope that this seminar would testify to the enduring partnership between Jamaica and China and become another important milestone in the friendship and cooperation between the two nations.
The seminar spans 21 days and involves 20 participants from various institutions, including the Jamaican Ministry of Labor, the Office of the Chinese Embassy in Jamaica, and China Harbour Engineering Company Ltd. (Jamaica). During the seminar, participants will undertake a field study visit to Huangshan City in Anhui Province.
Written by: Sun Ya
Photography by: Li Zheng
Reviewed by: Chen Wei
