Chinese Premier Li Qiang met with WorldSkills International (WSI) President Francis Hourant and CEO David Hoey in Shanghai on Tuesday.
Li said the 48th WorldSkills Competition is a major event that President Xi Jinping has personally cared about and promoted, adding that China is confident of delivering a successful competition for the world.
China is ready to deepen cooperation with the WSI to advance the global skills agenda and contribute to steady global economic growth, Li said.
China will continue strengthening its domestic skills development and hopes the WSI will share more international experience with China in areas including talent development and trainer training, while supporting China in playing a greater role in global governance of skills development, he said.
Hourant and Hoey spoke highly of China's vigorous development of skills training and its experience as a reference for other countries.
They expressed confidence that China would present an unprecedented competition to the international community, and said they are looking forward to working with China to contribute to global development and prosperity.
The 48th WorldSkills Competition is scheduled to be held in Shanghai from Sept 22 to 27.
Chinese premier meets WorldSkills International leaders in Shanghai
Canada-headquartered athletic apparel brand Lululemon is embracing the vast Chinese market through a deepened presence at the ninth China International Import Expo (CIIE), which opened in Shanghai on Thursday.
This year's expo has drawn 4,144 overseas exhibitors from 152 countries and regions. As the guest country of honor, Canada brought a delegation of about 120 companies.
This year also marks Lululemon's third consecutive participation at the CIIE. Andre Maestrini, president and chief commercial officer of Lululemon, brought a global debut product to the booth -- a runner's vest that seamlessly integrates insulation with ventilation.
"You see the fabrics here, the perforation, the double layering and different inclusions of technical materials to be able for air to flow, but still protecting and keep you warm in extreme conditions," said Maestrini.
He also noted that while the product is designed domestically, its inspirations and effectiveness are honed and validated in China, a market featuring rapid evolution and highly diversified consumer demands.
"Outdoor, outwear, China is seeing a lot of progress, so it's very interesting to see what China guests require. If you know what China guests want, and [combined with] people that living in Vancouver or Whistler near Canada, because we have a lot of mountains and outdoors -- the combination makes it a global product," he said.
Beyond product development, global companies are increasingly regarding China not only as a destination for bilateral trade, but as a springboard for broader global investment.
"China speed, in terms of innovation [and] in trends, is so intense that if we are present in China, and we have teams here developing the products that's needed for the China market, we see the potential to export them," said Maestrini.
Launched in 2018, the CIIE is the world's first national-level expo dedicated to import, and has become an important gateway for foreign businesses seeking access to China's vast consumer and industrial markets. This year's exhibition is held from Nov. 5 to 10.
Canadian athletic apparel brand deepens China presence with proactive CIIE showcase
Canadian athletic apparel brand deepens China presence with proactive CIIE showcase
