Photo taken on Oct 13, 2017 shows the meeting attended by members of the WorldSkills International in Abu Dhabi, United Arab Emirates (UAE). Members of the WorldSkills International voted Friday that the 46th WorldSkills Competition would be held in the Chinese city of Shanghai. [Photo/Xinhua] BEIJING - President Xi Jinping on Friday sent a video message in support for China's bid to host the WorldSkills Competition before the vote in Abu Dhabi. Xi said that on behalf of the Chinese government and people he firmly supports Shanghai's bid to host the 46th WorldSkills Competition in 2021, and gave his assurance that the city would be ready to host an innovative and influential event. Members of the WorldSkills International voted Friday that the 46th WorldSkills Competition would be held in the Chinese city of Shanghai. Xi said in his message before the vote that the competition would promote international exchanges and cooperation in vocational skills, drive the Chinese people especially nearly 200 million young people to take up new skills, and offer a chance for China to contribute to global skills development. The Chinese government is willing to be involved across the board and will continue to make its contribution to global poverty reduction and sustainable development, Xi said in the message. The bid team, including Yin Weimin, minister of human resources and social security, and Ying Yong, mayor of Shanghai, gave presentations. The WorldSkills Competition dates back to 1950, when it was first held in Madrid, Spain. The biennial event seeks to increase the awareness and prestige of vocational and blue-collar professions. China first participated in the event in 2011. custom silicone bandspaper wristbandscustom fidget spinnerssilicone keychain
Fireworks light up Victoria Harbor during New Year celebrations on Jan 1. WANG KONGSHENG/CHINA DAILY Hong Kong, known as the Pearl of the Orient, will celebrate the 20th anniversary of its return to the motherland on Saturday. To mark the occasion, China Daily and its partners will release One Hundred Photographers Focus on Hong Kong, an album of about 200 pictures that capture the city's vitality and prosperity, as well as its steady growth over the past two decades. Here, we present a selection from those images. While many things have changed since the handover on July 1, 1997, the principle of one country, two systems has ensured that the city's culture, economy and overall way of life remain. The photos in the book include stunning shots of residents and tourists enjoying traditional celebrations and visiting the city's giant Buddha statue, while others capture the excitement of race days at the popular Happy Valley and Sha Tin racecourses, as well as the nightlife on offer in Central. Over the past two decades, Hong Kong has remained an intersection of economic and cultural exchanges between the East and the West, and has maintained its status as one of the world's most competitive regions, according to international observers. Seen through the lens of these photographers, the Pearl of the Orient has never shined brighter.
