On the evening of September 22, the 48th World Skills Competition grandly opened in Shanghai. A congratulatory message from President Xi Jinping was read out at the opening ceremony. Premier Li Qiang of the State Council attended the opening ceremony and announced the opening. Photo by Xinhua News Agency reporter Huang Jingwen
Xinhua News Agency, Shanghai, September 22 (Reporters Wang Yongqian and An Bei) Pujiang inspires dreams and skills illuminate the world. The 48th World Skills Competition grandly opened in Shanghai on the evening of the 22nd. A congratulatory message from President Xi Jinping was read out at the opening ceremony. Premier Li Qiang of the State Council attended the opening ceremony and announced the opening.
At night, the Shanghai World Expo Cultural Center is illuminated with bright lights. Before the opening ceremony, the young people of Shanghai presented a youthful and dynamic artistic performance to extend a sincere welcome to guests from all over the world. The audience inside and outside the venue shared this unforgettable moment.
Amidst the cheerful and exciting music, Li Qiang, together with Wu Han, Chairman of WorldSkills Organization, and others entered the podium and waved to the audience.
The opening short film "Our Hands" pays tribute to skill sports and the spirit of craftsmanship. As skilled young people from five continents gather traditional Chinese mortise and tenon components to assemble the earth, the logos of previous WorldSkills Competitions light up in sequence.
At about 20 o'clock, the opening ceremony of the 48th World Skills Competition began. Amid warm applause from the audience, delegations from 68 countries and regions entered the venue one after another along the "Skills Dream Avenue". The Chinese delegation, the host country, entered the venue last, and the whole place was filled with joy.
To the soulful melody of "I Love You China", six Chinese gold medalists from the World Skills Competition took firm steps and walked into the scene guarding the national flag of the People's Republic of China. Everyone stood up and sang the national anthem of the People's Republic of China. The five-star red flag is rising slowly and fluttering in the wind.
Subsequently, the artistic performance "Skills Illuminate the Future" was wonderfully presented. In the first chapter "Light of Civilization", following the footsteps of Chinese technical sages such as Lu Ban, Cai Lun, Bi Sheng, and Huang Daopo, the audience experienced a journey of technical civilization across time and space. In the second chapter "The Light of Skills", five skilled young people from five continents tell their true experiences of realizing their dreams with skills. In the third chapter "Light of the Future", more than a hundred human dancers and Chinese humanoid robots perform on the same stage, presenting the light of human civilization that will shine even brighter in the intelligent era.
Competitors from Ethiopia, India, and China and experts from Ireland, Mexico, and Poland took the oath on behalf of all contestants and experts respectively.
As the WorldSkills Organization sang, the WorldSkills Organization flag slowly rose, flying over the venue together with the bright five-star red flag.
Chen Jining, Director of the 48th WorldSkills Competition Organizing Committee and Secretary of the Shanghai Municipal Party Committee, Wang Xiaoping, Executive Director of the 48th WorldSkills Competition Organizing Committee and Minister of Human Resources and Social Security, and Wu Han, Chairman of the WorldSkills Organization, delivered speeches. The WorldSkills Champions Liaison Group spoke on behalf of Valieva.
A mortise and tenon joint slowly rises in the center of the stage. Under the watchful eyes of the entire audience, the mortise and tenon components were put together one by one to form the logo of the 48th WorldSkills Competition.
At around 21:40, Li Qiang announced: The 48th World Skills Competition is opening!
"Skills change the world, skills light up the future, the youth of the world is flying on the same stage, and millions of hands gather hope..." Chinese and foreign skilled youths jointly sang the theme song of this competition "Skills Light up the Future". The audience applauded and cheered for a long time. The global skilled youths are moving forward hand in hand under the vision of a community with a shared future for mankind.
Malaysian Prime Minister Anwar attended the opening ceremony. Heads of relevant departments and relevant international organizations from many countries and regions attended the opening ceremony.
Wu Zhenglong and Chen Yiqin attended the opening ceremony.
The WorldSkills Competition is hosted by WorldSkills and is held every two years. With the theme of "Skills Change the World, Skills Illuminate the Future", this competition has a total of 64 competition events, with 1,385 contestants from 68 countries and regions participating. A total of 71 contestants from the Chinese delegation will participate in all events. The competition will close on September 27th.
