Celebrating World Youth Skills Day with New Dream Ambassadors
On World Youth Skills Day, 15 July, the WorldSkills Shanghai 2026 Executive Bureau announced the appointment of six “Great National Craftsmen” and WorldSkills Competitors—Wang Shuqun, Liu Xinru, Cao Jiahao, Zhu Lixuan, Yang Lingzhi, and Wu Jiani—as the second cohort of WorldSkills Shanghai 2026 Dream Ambassadors. It aimed to leverage their role-model influence, promote the spirit of craftsmanship, and encourage more young people to pursue skill-based career paths.
Building on the momentum generated by the introduction of the first 10 WorldSkills Shanghai 2026 Dream Ambassadors unveiled at last September’s WorldSkills Shanghai one-year countdown event, this new cohort of six Dream Ambassadors—whose expertise spans aerospace assembly, digital software, floristry, pâtisserie and confectionery, hotel reception, and restaurant service—are setting new benchmarks for China on the global stage for skills.
Inspiring Success Stories Across Diverse Skill Categories
Wang Shuqun is a senior aerospace technician and head of the manned space docking mechanism assembly team at Plant 149 of the 8th Academy at China Aerospace Science and Technology Corporation. He led his team to overcome the technical hurdles of space docking through 16 years of relentless efforts, and contributed to China’s first-ever “space kiss”—the rendezvous and docking between Shenzhou-8 and Tiangong-1 in 2011. He also won China Skills Award and the second-class prize of National Science and Technology Progress Awards.
Liu Xinru, a teacher at Suzhou Wuzhong Technician College, won the first gold medal for Team China in the Pâtisserie and Confectionery category at the 47th WorldSkills Competition. She was invited to share her story of “success through skills” at the State Council Information Office of China and graced the stage of 2026 CCTV Spring Festival Gala.
Cao Jiahao, a teacher at Suzhou Technician College, won the gold medal in the Software Applications Development category at the 47th WorldSkills Competition, marking China’s first-ever gold medal in this category.
The Growing Importance of Skilled Talent in China
Zhu Lixuan, a teacher at Shanghai Information Management School, won a Medallion for Excellence in Hotel Reception at the 47th WorldSkills Competition, scoring the highest in East Asia and securing China’s first-ever medal in this category. She has also traveled to border regions in Yunnan Province to deliver skills training.
Yang Lingzhi, a teacher at Shanghai Vocational College of Agriculture and Forestry, came from the mountainous regions of Guizhou Province. Driven by a passion for plants, she pursued her dream in floristry and won a Medallion for Excellence in Floristry at the WorldSkills Competition 2022 Special Edition.
Wu Jiani, a purser at China Eastern Airlines and head of a skill master studio, won a Medallion for Excellence in Restaurant Service at the 45th WorldSkills Competition, achieving the best-ever result for a Chinese Competitor in this category.
The WorldSkills Shanghai 2026 Executive Bureau stated that as China accelerates its industrial digital transformation, high-end manufacturing upgrades, and quality enhancements in modern services, the demand for high-caliber technical talent is more urgent than ever. The journeys of these Dream Ambassadors vividly embody the concept that “Master Skills Change Your Future”. They serve as tangible role models for young people, providing the inspiration to nurture more “Great National Craftsmen” and skilled artisans.
Looking Ahead to WorldSkills Shanghai 2026
Wang Shuqun expressed his deep honor at being appointed as WorldSkills Shanghai 2026 Dream Ambassador. “WorldSkills Shanghai 2026 extends an invitation to the world. Here, skills are not only about competition—they are a stage for chasing dreams. Let’s join hands to ignite the spark of skills, and with unwavering dedication, turn every lofty dream into reality.
Wu Jiani also shared a heartfelt message: “Skills are never a ‘second-best’ option, but a glorious path to excellence. Let’s gather in Shanghai and write our own legends of youth on the WorldSkills stage.
