The WorldSkills Shanghai 2026 Executive Bureau has appointed six individuals as the second cohort of WorldSkills Shanghai 2026 Dream Ambassadors on World Youth Skills Day, 15 July. These ambassadors, Wang Shuqun, Liu Xinru, Cao Jiahao, Zhu Lixuan, Yang Lingzhi, and Wu Jiani, are all experienced and accomplished WorldSkills Competitors, and will play a crucial role in promoting the spirit of craftsmanship and encouraging young people to pursue skill-based career paths.
This announcement comes after the successful introduction of the first 10 WorldSkills Shanghai 2026 Dream Ambassadors at last September’s WorldSkills Shanghai one-year countdown event. The new cohort of six Dream Ambassadors, who specialize in aerospace assembly, digital software, floristry, pâtisserie and confectionery, hotel reception, and restaurant service, are setting new standards for China on the global stage for skills.
One of the newly appointed Dream Ambassadors, Wang Shuqun, is a senior aerospace technician and the head of the manned space docking mechanism assembly team at Plant 149 of the 8th Academy at China Aerospace Science and Technology Corporation. He has played a crucial role in China’s first-ever “space kiss” between Shenzhou-8 and Tiangong-1 in 2011 and has also been recognized with the China Skills Award and the second-class prize of National Science and Technology Progress Awards.
Liu Xinru, a teacher at Suzhou Wuzhong Technician College, made history by winning the first gold medal for Team China in the Pâtisserie and Confectionery category at the 47th WorldSkills Competition. She has also been invited to share her story of “success through skills” at the State Council Information Office of China and has even graced the stage of the 2026 CCTV Spring Festival Gala.
Similarly, Cao Jiahao, a teacher at Suzhou Technician College, made China proud by winning the gold medal in the Software Applications Development category at the 47th WorldSkills Competition, marking the country’s first-ever gold in this category. Zhu Lixuan, a teacher at Shanghai Information Management School, also brought honor to China by winning a Medallion for Excellence in Hotel Reception at the 47th WorldSkills Competition, scoring the highest in East Asia and securing the country’s first-ever medal in this category. Zhu has also traveled to Yunnan Province to deliver skills training in border regions.
Yang Lingzhi, a teacher at Shanghai Vocational College of Agriculture and Forestry, has a unique background, coming from the mountainous regions of Guizhou Province. Her passion for plants led her to pursue her dream in floristry, and she 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, has also made a significant impact, winning a Medallion for Excellence in Restaurant Service at the 45th WorldSkills Competition. She achieved the best-ever result for a Chinese Competitor in this category.
The WorldSkills Shanghai 2026 Executive Bureau stated that with China’s increasing focus on industrial digital transformation, high-end manufacturing upgrades, and quality enhancements in modern services, the demand for highly skilled technical talent is more urgent than ever. The stories of these Dream Ambassadors serve as real-life examples of the concept that “Master Skills Change Your Future.” They are role models for young people, inspiring them to become “Great National Craftsmen” and skilled artisans themselves.
Wang Shuqun expressed his gratitude and honor at being appointed as a WorldSkills Shanghai 2026 Dream Ambassador, stating, “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, saying, “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.”
