CHONGQING (CQNEWS) -- China’s Ministry of Human Resources and Social Security (MOHRSS), National Development and Reform Commission, China International Development Cooperation Agency, and the Chongqing Municipal People’s Government will host the second Belt and Road International Skills Competition between June 24 and June 26, 2024, said Yu Jiadong, the deputy director of the competition's organizing committee and the vice minister of the MOHRSS, at the press conference on the event held by the MOHRSS and the Chongqing Municipal People’s Government on May 27.

Attracting participants from nearly 60 countries and regions

Jiang Duntao, the deputy director of the organizing committee, director of the executive committee, and deputy mayor of Chongqing Municipality, introduced that the preparations for the second Belt and Road International Skills Competition will center on the theme of the event - Skill Cooperation and Joint Development and aim at offering an open, intelligence, green, safe, and characteristic skills competition, with improvements and innovation made in the following aspects:

First, the setting of the competition events will better match the industrial development needs of countries jointly building the Belt and Road Initiative and their willingness to participate. Based on the events in World Skills Competitions and the new occupations related to digitalization, green development, and our lives, the second Belt and Road International Skills Competition will offer 18 competition events split into six categories: transportation and logistics, structural and architectural technology, manufacturing and engineering technology, information and communication technology, creative arts and fashion, and social and personal services.

Second, the leadership force of the skills competition will be enhanced in the supporting activities. As part of the second Belt and Road International Skills Competition, a series of activities will be staged to promote people-to-people exchange and cooperation, including themed exhibitions, international dialogues, skills shows, technology experience activities, technology exhibitions, and product exhibitions and sales.

Third, the skills competitions will involve more participating countries and regions this year. With the efforts made by the Chinese ministries and commissions, foreign consulates in Chongqing and Sichuan, and relevant technical experts, coaches, and contestants, the 18 events in the second Belt and Road International Skills Competition have attracted participants from nearly 60 countries and regions in five continents. The overall scale of the competition is larger than that of the first competition.

Fourth, digital technology will be utilized to provide security for the event. The official website of the event will be upgraded, and AI-assisted referees and digital race management systems will be used for the first time in the competition. What’s more, a ‘control cabin’ will be established to achieve the control of comprehensive information on one screen, direct access to work collaboration with one button, the delivery of competition services in one code, and the guarantee of fairness and security.

Fifth, the second Belt and Road International Skills Competition will go global by offering Belt and Road International Skills Exchange Activities, setting up a team of technical experts to carry out skills training, expand cooperation, and promote joint development in the industrial parks, enterprises and colleges in the participating countries of the Belt and Road Initiative. It’s learned that the first delegation completed the skills exchange with Thailand and Cambodia between May 17 and May 25, 2024.

Offering 18 competition events

The Belt and Road International Skills Competition this year will come with a series of exhibitions, meetings, shows, and sales, said Wang Xiaojun, a member of the organizing committee, deputy director of the Department of Vocational Capacity Building of the Ministry of Human Resources and Social Security, and first-class inspector.

The second Belt and Road International Skills Competition, starting from June 24 to June 26, 2024, will kick off in the N1 hall of the Chongqing International Expo Center. With the practice of international professional skills events as a reference, the opening ceremony of the Belt and Road International Skills Competition will integrate the elements of the Belt and Road Initiative participating countries and the characteristics of Bayu culture to demonstrate the profound connotation and cultural charm of the Belt and Road Initiative.

Excellent young players from countries jointly developing the Belt and Road Initiative and the member countries and regions of the World Skills Organization will compete and exchange techniques on the same stage from June 25 to June 26, 2024.

The second Belt and Road International Skills Competition will close in the N1 hall of the Chongqing International Expo Center on the evening of June 26.

Based on the industrial development needs of countries jointly building the Belt and Road Initiative and their willingness to participate in the competition, as well as the conditions for organizing the competition in Chongqing, the second Belt and Road International Skills Competition will offer 18 competition events, of which 11 are world skills events and seven other competition events, involving manufacturing, transportation, communications, food and beverage, service, and other industries. So, more than 300 participants, referees, and related personnel from nearly 60 countries and regions have registered to participate in the games and exhibitions, and registration is still in progress.

During the event, skill shows, South-South cooperation seminars in the field of digital economy and skills, dialogues on technical support for the World Skills Competition, and highly skilled personnel exchanges will be staged at the same time. It’s worth noting that activities related to international exchange and cooperation in vocational skills will be held at Chongqing Yuelai International Convention Center on the morning of June 25. (Translated by Yuki, Fathom Language Limited)