Shanghai's Qingpu district is entering the final stretch as it prepares to host the 48th WorldSkills Competition, which will bring more than 1,000 young skilled professionals from over 80 countries and regions to the city from Sept 22 to 27.

The competition will be held at the National Exhibition and Convention Center (Shanghai), with the official contests running from Sept 23 to 26. As the main host district, Qingpu has achieved full operational readiness.

Preparations for transportation, the urban environment, safety operations, and audience management are progressing as planned. Landscape improvements and site layouts around the venue are entering their final stages, while key roads and core areas are being readied to present a clean, orderly cityscape for visitors from around the world.

Accommodation, medical services, and volunteer support measures are also being finalized. Practical drills covering fire evacuation, emergency drainage, and water rescue operations are underway to ensure a swift and effective response to potential emergencies.

The Qingpu-based Shanghai Construction Management Vocational College serves as the Chinese training base for floristry, while Shanghai Business and Information College provides technical support for the drone systems project. Several of the district's chief technicians are closely involved in training and supporting Chinese contestants.

The district has also made strides in cultivating skilled professionals. Qingpu now has 95,000 skilled workers, with highly skilled workers at the senior technician level or above accounting for more than 37 percent of the total.

Beyond the competition itself, Qingpu aims to convert the surge of visitors into sustainable economic gains. The district has launched Jiangnan-themed tourism routes that integrate agriculture, culture, commerce, tourism, sports, and exhibitions.

Source: China Daily