Premier Li Keqiang invited the Chinese delegation to the 44th World Skills Competition to the State Council for a symposium on Nov 21. The delegation achieved the best record ever by winning 15 gold, 7 silver, and 8 bronze medals.

“You make me appreciate the vast prospect of China’s manufacturing and services,” said the Premier. “I am here to congratulate you. I also hope this symposium can boost the craftsmanship spirit to the whole society.”

Nineteen-year-old Liang Zhibin, a technician, won a gold medal for bricklaying. He beat 29 rivals by laying three walls with excellent quality within 22 hours.

“Over the past 30 years of rapid growth, we relied on millions of migrant workers’ manual labor. But today, we need millions of technical talents like you to upgrade Chinese manufacturing and services to a medium and high end,” Premier Li said.

Another young participant Song Biao won the Albert Vidal Award, an honor given to the highest scorer in all the competition events. He participated in the industrial mechanic millwright.

After enquiring about the competition in detail, the Premier said the industrial mechanic millwright is a traditional profession, but China falls behind in this field. Now China is encouraging mass entrepreneurship and innovation, which not only needs research, but also calls for craftsmanship in every production process.

“So I hope you can be forerunners of craftsmanship, to mobilize millions of other technicians,” the Premier said as he called on them to continue striving for excellence.

Jiang Yingcheng, a gold medalist in car painting from Zhejiang province, presented his works to the Premier. It was an exquisite handmade pattern, with accurate shape and location, which greatly impressed the Premier.

Premier Li vowed more incentive measures “to enable craftsmen to enjoy more honors”.