As Shanghai prepares to host the 48th WorldSkills Competition in September, diplomats and representatives of international organizations gathered at a reception in Beijing on Monday to celebrate the power of vocational training.

Their message was that skills development is essential for the future of work, and China — home to the world's largest skilled labor force — is uniquely positioned to share its expertise globally.

The reception, attended by representatives from nearly 60 foreign embassies in China and international organizations, featured six interactive exhibits ranging from traditional joinery and clay sculpture to humanoid robots and robotic dogs.

"The outcome of labor markets under new technology is not predetermined," Changhee Lee, director of the International Labor Organization's Country Office for China and Mongolia, told China Daily on the sidelines of the reception. "It is all up to how society and country respond."

He described skills training as a bridge between today's jobs and future opportunities, adding that world-level competitions like the upcoming Shanghai competition can help set benchmarks for excellence and promote cross-border learning.

Francis Hourant, president of WorldSkills International, acknowledged the rise of artificial intelligence but stressed the enduring value of human craftsmanship.

"AI is a tool, not the end of the story," he said.

Hourant praised China for aligning its national vocational skills certification system with WorldSkills occupational standards. He said the alignment helps China develop a globally relevant skilled workforce, a practice worth emulating worldwide.

Michael Hart, president of the American Chamber of Commerce in China, said:

"Skilled labor is a fundamental part of why many US companies continue to invest and succeed in China." He noted that member companies view the country not only as a production base but also as a place for innovation.

China joined WorldSkills International — the organization overseeing the WorldSkills Competition — in 2010, more than six decades after the first competition was held in Madrid, Spain.

Since then, China has won 93 gold medals, topping both the gold medal table and overall team rankings in the past four consecutive editions.

Huang Bolin, a gold medalist in joinery at the 47th WorldSkills Competition in Lyon, France, said winning the competition significantly improved his employment prospects.

Regarding automation, he said there is room for coexistence, noting that handcraft skills "will never be completely replaced by machines," while technology and manual work can combine "to reach a higher level of intelligent manufacturing."

Organizers said the 48th WorldSkills Competition will bring together more than 1,400 young competitors from over 70 countries and regions to compete in 64 skill categories.

Shanghai Mayor Gong Zheng told attendees that the 2026 event is expected to set records for the number of skills, participants, member organizations and venue space.