2nd Belt and Road International Skills Competition to be held in SW China's Chongqing

The second Belt and Road International Skills Competition will open on June 24 in southwest China's Chongqing Municipality. This year's event, themed "Skills Cooperation, Joint Development," has attracted a total of 590 skilled professionals from 61 countries and regions, including 190 contestants.

After considering the industrial development needs of the countries participating in the Belt and Road Initiative (BRI), the willingness of participants, and the conditions for hosting the competition in Chongqing, 18 competition categories were established, said Wang Xiaojun, an official from the Ministry of Human Resources and Social Security, at a press conference on Sunday.

Among these, 11 categories are from the World Skills Competition, including digital construction, freight forwarding, electronics, optoelectronic technology, information network cabling, floristry, jewelry, and hairdressing. The other seven categories encompass rail signal control technology, drone assembly, industrial robot system operation, coffee making, and internet marketing, according to Wang.

"In 2019, the first Belt and Road International Skills Competition was successfully held in Chongqing, attracting representatives from 44 countries and regions," said Wang, who is also a member of the organizing committee. "It became a landmark event in the field of human resources and social security, advancing the Belt and Road Initiative."

"In recent years, we have actively fostered skills exchange and collaboration with BRI countries, international organizations and companies," said Wang. "These efforts have produced significant results, especially in cultivating skilled talent for overseas branches of Chinese companies and partner countries involved in the BRI."

The three-day competition, held from June 24 to 26, is co-hosted by the Ministry of Human Resources and Social Security, the National Development and Reform Commission, China International Development Cooperation Agency, and Chongqing Municipal People's Government.

"Compared to the first competition, this year's event features higher standards, a larger scale, a broader impact, and more diverse activities," said Wang.

Wang noted that the competition features many foreign participants, with a ratio of about 3:1 between foreign and domestic contestants. The participating countries span five continents, including 20 from Asia, 10 from Europe, 23 from Africa, two from Oceania, and three from the Americas.

Several countries have also sent ministerial officials and technical observers to the competition, highlighting China's skill development, economic and technological strength, and its ability to host international skill competitions, Wang said.

The average age of contestants is 22, with over 95 percent of participants being 30 years old or younger, and more than 40 percent being 20 years old or younger. The youngest contestant is just 15 years old.

Chongqing has in recent years aligned its participation in the BRI with the development of the Yangtze River Economic Belt. It has established partnerships with over 30 countries and regions, including Singapore and Germany, as well as international industry associations, said Quan Wei, a Chongqing government official and deputy director of the competition's executive committee.

"These international collaborations have not only strengthened Chongqing's global ties but also promoted the training and development of local skilled personnel in Chongqing," he said.

Currently, the total number of skilled personnel in the city exceeds 5.36 million, with 1.7 million classified as highly skilled. This ranks Chongqing first in the western region and provides strong support for the city's economic and social development, according to Quan.