China’s 3rd Vocational Skills Competition in Zhengzhou highlights smart manufacturing, digital skills, and the strength of its skilled workforce.
The 3rd Vocational Skills Competition opened on September 19 in Zhengzhou, Henan Province. A total of 3,420 contestants are competing in 106 events, making it the China’s largest platform for skilled talent.
Technology Meets Skills
Over half of the events focus on smart manufacturing, advanced equipment, digital technology, and new energy. New categories, such as artificial intelligence engineering, industrial internet, and integrated circuits, demonstrate how the competition keeps pace with China’s industrial upgrading.
Technology also shapes the event itself. AI, AR, and big data systems support digital registration, competition management, and live viewing. Service robots not only assist in the venues but also perform with actors during the opening ceremony.
Stories Behind the Skills
The competition is also about people. Wang Anyong, a welder with 16 years of experience, has worked on over 300 shield tunnelling machines. “Standards have become part of my body,” he said.
Niu Xueping, a veteran in aviation manufacturing, has raised product quality to 99.7 per cent. For him, a small aircraft component can decide whether a fighter jet soars safely in the sky.
Young competitors bring fresh energy. In the digital construction event, students build models and process data, showing how construction is moving toward digitalisation. Teng Luchun, a participant from Jiangxi, said she chose this path because it matches the industry’s future.
Skills for the Future
From welders and builders to AI specialists, the 3rd Vocational Skills Competition reflects how traditional craftsmanship and new technologies meet in today’s China. It is not only a contest, but also a showcase of the country’s skilled workforce and its role in shaping future industries.
Additional reporting by CNS.
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