On June 11, the China Europe International Conference on Vocational Education and High-Skilled Talent Development was convened in Qingdao. During the conference, former Spanish Prime Minister José Luis Rodríguez Zapatero led a delegation to visit the Rhein Köster Intelligent Technology (Qingdao) Co., Ltd. (Rhein Köster Qingdao), located in the Qingdao Sino-German Ecological Park.

Zapatero expressed that by implementing an innovative mechanism named "two entities and three locations" fostering collaboration among schools, enterprises, and transnational centers, Rhein Köster Qingdao has effectively established a pathway transforming theoretical knowledge into practical job competency. This model holds valuable reference significance. He anticipated enhanced collaboration between Spain and China in the domains of vocational education, talent development, technological exchange, and related fields.In recent years, China (Shandong) Pilot Free Trade Zone Qingdao Area and the Sino-German Ecological Park have embraced the "dual-system" educational model, introducing institutions such as the Sino-German Applied Technology School (Chinesisch-Deutsche Berufsschule Westküste Qingdao), the Sino-German Intelligent Manufacturing Technician College, and Rhein Köster. They have encouraged collaborations to establish industry-education integration colleges, specifically in sectors like "Integrated Circuits" and "Industrial Internet", thereby supporting regional industrial enhancements and skills development in the workforce.

Song Jingwu, Vice President and Secretary-General of the China-EU Association, Ding Anhui, Deputy Director of the Office of Foreign Affairs Committee of the CPC Qingdao Municipal Committee, Zhang Yunqing, Deputy Director of the Management Committee of the Sino-German Ecological Park in Qingdao, Professor Eric Moskava, CEO of Rhein Köster GmbH in Germany, Cui Zhi, Chairman of Rhein Köster Qingdao, along with associated officials from the Sino-German Ecological Park, participated in the event.