The China Skills Competition 2018, which serves as the National Selection Competition for the 45th WorldSkills Competition, kicked off in Shanghai on Tuesday night.

Held at the National Exhibition and Convention Center (Shanghai) until June 15, the Shanghai leg of the competition will feature about 900 contestants from 46 delegations across the country who will compete in 34 events including automobile technology, carpentry and mechatronics.

The second part of the China Skills Competition 2018 will be held in Guangzhou, Guangdong province, from June 21 to 28.

Zhang Jinan, Minister of Human Resources and Social Security, said in his address during the opening ceremony that such competitions are important in cultivating skilled workers.

He added that this year’s national selection competition, which is hosted according to the concepts and rules of WorldSkills Competition, is the largest of its size in terms of the number of competition events, contestants.

Shanghai Mayor Ying Yong also said that the competition will serve as a preparation for the 45th WorldSkills Competition to be held in 2019 in Russia and an all-round rehearsal for the 46th WorldSkills Competition to be held in 2021 in Shanghai.

On Tuesday afternoon, WorldSkills International, the Municipality of Shanghai, and the Ministry of Human Resources and Social Security signed a formal agreement regarding WorldSkills Shanghai 2021.

The three parties have also reached an agreement to build the first WorldSkills Museum in Shanghai.