Chongqing to host second Belt and Road International Skills Competition

Chongqing will host the second Belt and Road International Skills Competition from June 24 to 26, which was announced during a news conference in the city on Monday.

The competition, co-hosted by the Ministry of Human Resources and Social Security, the National Development and Reform Commission, the China International Development Cooperation Agency and the Chongqing government, aims to promote skill exchange, skilled talent cultivation and collaborative development among the countries involved in the Belt and Road Initiative.

There are 18 competition categories, of which 11 are also part of the WorldSkills Competition, the highest-level event of vocational education and skills. These categories include Digital Construction, Electronics, Information Network Cabling and Hairdressing.

The remaining seven categories are Automobile Technology (New Energy), Rail Signal Control Technology, Unmanned Aerial Vehicle (UAV) Maintenance, Industrial Robot System Operation, Internet of Things (IoT) Installation and Debugging, Coffee Making and Internet Marketing.

So far, contestants from some 60 countries and regions across the globe have signed up for the event, according to the organizing committee.

Artificial intelligence-assisted judging and a digital competition management system will be used in this year's competition.

"Chongqing has always attached great importance to skilled talent," said the vice-mayor of the city, Jiang Duntao, at the conference.

The municipality has more than 5.3 million skilled workers, including 1.68 million high-skilled workers, ranking first in western China regarding the proportion of high-skilled talents.

Chongqing was one of the earliest cities to participate in the WorldSkills Competition. Since 2012, contestants from the city have claimed four golds, three silvers and one excellence award in hairdressing, beauty therapy, electronic technology and optical technology.

Chongqing has also established China's first WorldSkills Competition research center, founded the International Development Alliance for New Land-Sea Corridor Skilled Professionals and launched over 1,000 skill exchange and cooperation projects with more than 30 countries and regions.

Chongqing hosted the first Belt and Road International Skills Competition in May 2019, which attracted nearly 700 contestants, experts and technical translators from 44 countries and regions.