A contestant makes preparation at the first Vocational Skills Competition of the People's Republic of China in Guangzhou, Guangdong province, on Dec 9, 2020. (ZOU HONG / CHINADAILY.COM.CN)

President Xi Jinping sent a letter of congratulations on Thursday to the country's first vocational skills competition, as China is striving to expand the skilled workforce to support the development of manufacturing and innovation industries.

Xi, who is also general secretary of the Communist Party of China Central Committee and chairman of the Central Military Commission, said that the competition provides a platform for workers to display their skills and learn from each other.

The Vocational Skills Competition, which kicked off on Thursday in Guangzhou, Guangdong province, is recognized as the nation's first since the founding of the People's Republic of China. The three-day event has 2,557 competitors in 36 delegations, according to its organizers.

In the congratulatory letter, Xi said that the competition plays a positive role in expanding the skilled workforce and promoting socioeconomic development.

He said skilled workers are the major power supporting the development of the nation's manufacturing and innovation industries, and called on all levels of government to attach more importance to training skilled workers, especially the younger generation.

In an instruction delivered to the competition, Premier Li Keqiang said that improving working skills is a crucial foundation to enhance the capabilities of China's manufacturing and services industries.

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He called for efforts to further enhance the training system for skilled workers, create a better environment for skilled talents and guide young workers to perfect their skills, in a bid to boost employment, entrepreneurship and innovation in the country and ensure high-quality economic growth.

What we want is a worker to possess good skills, potential and a fine personality, because all the skills will finally serve the development of a company and the industry.

Jiang Guowei, deputy director of the training center of Jiangsu Electric Power Construction Co

Approved by the State Council, China's Cabinet, the Ministry of Human Resources and Social Security began holding national vocational skills competitions from this year.

The competition covers 86 events including industrial control, beauty treatment, hairdressing and carpentry. It is also viewed as an exercise for the 46th WorldSkills Competition in Shanghai in 2022.

About 47 percent of the competitors are vocational students, and skilled employees account for 10 percent of the competitors, according to the organizers.

With the youngest competitor aged 16, the contest has attracted people from different age groups. The most senior competitor is 58.

Jiang Guowei, deputy director of the training center of Jiangsu Electric Power Construction Co, is the coach of 26-year-old competitor Zhang Chuangye in the welding event.

He said Zhang has worked in the company for about six years and his adept working skills have highly impressed his colleagues.

"Basic skill is our first consideration, but it's not the only quality," he said. "What we want is a worker to possess good skills, potential and a fine personality, because all the skills will finally serve the development of a company and the industry."

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Xinhua contributed to this story.

Contact the writer at chengsi@chinadaily.com.cn