Photo: Screenshot from the official website of WorldSkills Shanghai 2026

China has formally established a 220-member delegation for the 48th WorldSkills Competition to be held in Shanghai from September 22 to 27, with the approval of the Ministry of Human Resources and Social Security.

The delegation includes 71 competitors, 64 experts, and 64 interpreters and staff members. The competitors will take part in all 64 skill competitions at the event, the Science and Technology Daily reported. 

The 71 competitors come from 21 provincial-level regions across China, including 49 students and 22 employees. Their average age is 21, with the youngest aged 18 and the oldest 25.

The WorldSkills Competition is the world's biggest international skills competition, bringing together young people, industry, education and government leaders from around the world to advance Technical and Vocational Education and Training, according to the WorldSkills Shanghai 2026 website.

About 1,400 competitors from nearly 70 countries and regions are expected to compete across 64 official skill competitions.

WorldSkills Conference 2026 and the WorldSkills Shanghai 2026 Expo will be held alongside the Competition, according to the event's official website.

Since joining WorldSkills International in October 2010, China has participated in seven editions of the WorldSkills Competition, winning 93 gold medals, 41 silver medals, 28 bronze medals and 71 Medallions for Excellence, according to Science and Technology Daily.

China has ranked first in both the gold medal table and overall team points for four consecutive editions. The Shanghai event will mark the country's eighth participation and the third time it has entered every skill competition.

"The delegation will strictly observe competition rules, compete fairly and with civility, demonstrate both sportsmanship and skill, and fully showcase the superb expertise and positive image of China's young skilled professionals in the new era," an official with the Chinese delegation was quoted as saying by Science and Technology Daily.

China's award ceremony uniforms and competition uniforms have also been unveiled. Both sets draw their central design elements from traditional Chinese mortise-and-tenon joinery, highlighting the inheritance of craftsmanship and the cultural confidence of China's young skilled professionals, according to the Xinhua News Agency.

Global Times