A Gathering of Top Talents Showcases Their Skills—The 2018 Shaoxing “Yuegong Cup” Welding Skills Competition Concludes Successfully

With the welding torch as a pen, we draw the perfect path; with the soldering iron as our feet, we stride into a remarkable life. From October 26 to 27, 2018, the 2018 Shaoxing “Yuegong Cup” Welding Skills Competition was held at Yuegong Holding Group. The event was co‑hosted by the Shaoxing Municipal Federation of Trade Unions, the Shaoxing Municipal Bureau of Human Resources and Social Security, and the Shaoxing Municipal Bureau of Housing and Urban–Rural Development, with the Yuecheng District Federation of Trade Unions, Donghu Subdistrict of Yuecheng District, and Yuegong Holding Group Co., Ltd. serving as co‑organizers. Competitors from six teams—representing Yuecheng District, Keqiao District, Zhuji City, Shengzhou City, Shangyu District, and the Shaoxing Municipal Public Utilities Group—gathered to take part in the two‑day competition.

Contestants Check In, Gathering at Yuegong

2018 Starting at 9:00 a.m. on October 26, the six participating teams from various districts and cities arrived safely at the competition registration desk—the first-floor conference room of the Yuegong Group office building—where they systematically collected their competition schedules, contestant badges, and other materials from the organizing committee staff. Registration concluded at 1:30 p.m. that same day.

Team Leader Meeting – Opening Ceremony Announced

2018 On October 26 at 2:30 p.m., the opening ceremony and team leaders’ meeting of the “Yuegong Cup” Welding Skills Competition were successfully held in the third-floor conference room of the Yuegong Group’s office building. Representatives from the organizing and hosting units, the chief arbiter, the chief judge, and the team leaders of all participating teams attended the event, which was chaired by Tao Qinkuo, Head of the Economic Work Department of the Shaoxing Municipal Federation of Trade Unions, the competition’s organizer. The meeting featured four agenda items: first, Wang Zhongyou, Vice Chairman of the Trade Union of Yuegong Holding Group Co., Ltd., the host organization, presented an update on the competition’s preparatory arrangements; second, Professor Zhao Qiaoliang, the chief judge, addressed technical issues and provided important guidelines for the competition; third, Jin Fei, Chairman of the Trade Union of Yuegong Holding Group Co., Ltd. and a member of the organizing committee, delivered the opening address and officially declared the competition open; and finally, team leaders from each participating delegation actively voiced their remarks.

Theoretical Exam: Strict Discipline

2018 On October 26 at 2:30 p.m., the competition’s first skill challenge—the welding theory exam—was held in the fourth-floor conference room of the Yuegong Group’s multi-purpose building. Throughout the 90-minute examination, all contestants remained calm and composed, carefully reading the questions and answering with precision.

The hands-on session was tense and intense.

2018 At 7:45 a.m. on October 27, the competition’s final skill event—the practical welding contest—was held with intense fervor at the Yuegong Group’s welding workshop. Each contestant was fully energized and showcased their expertise; amid showers of sparks, they produced welded components that were structurally sound and aesthetically smooth, vividly demonstrating the well-rounded capabilities and high‑level welding skills of this year’s “Yuegong Cup” participants.

The Demeanor of the Competition’s Notaries, Judges, and Arbitrators

Throughout the entire competition, the notaries, judges, and arbitrators maintained meticulous attention to detail and worked with utmost diligence to ensure that the results were fair and impartial.

Closing Ceremony of the Competition — Award Presentation Ceremony

Following a comprehensive assessment comprising both a written welding theory exam and a hands-on welding practical exam, and after all contestants showcased their full capabilities without holding anything back, the competition awarded one Team Excellence Prize, one Outstanding Organization Prize, one First Prize, two Second Prizes, and three Third Prizes. At the closing ceremony and awards presentation, trophies and cash prizes were presented to the winning teams and individual winners. Specifically, the Team Excellence Prize was awarded to the Zhuji City team; the Outstanding Organization Prize went to the Keqiao District team; the First Prize in the individual category was claimed by Yu Guangyuan from the Zhuji City team; the Second Prizes were shared by Yang Gewang and Yang Desheng, also from the Zhuji City team; and the Third Prizes were awarded to Zhai Weifeng from the Zhuji City team, Yuan Weixing from the Yuecheng District team, and Jin Weixiang from the Keqiao District team.

Closing Ceremony of the Competition — Address by the Organizing Committee Leadership

Guo Xueren, Deputy Director of the Shaoxing Municipal Bureau of Housing and Urban–Rural Development, extended warm congratulations to the contestants and winning teams who achieved outstanding results in this competition, and expressed his heartfelt gratitude to all the organizers, co-organizers, and relevant personnel. He stated: “In this competition, the participants fully demonstrated their skills, showcased their style, displayed their competence, fostered unity, and strengthened friendships, thereby highlighting their solid professional expertise and high‑caliber professional demeanor. The judges, arbitrators, and notaries approached their duties with meticulous care, impartiality, and dedication, ensuring the event’s high quality. While congratulating the award‑winning contestants, Deputy Director Guo urged all participants to remain humble and modest, to press forward with renewed vigor, and to continue achieving even greater success.”

Chen Chaohui, Deputy Director of the Shaoxing Municipal Bureau of Human Resources and Social Security, extended warm congratulations on the successful conclusion of this year’s “Yuegong Cup” Skills Competition and commended its positive contributions. He emphasized that skilled personnel play an indispensable role in driving economic development and social progress, and called for a comprehensive effort to strengthen the workforce of skilled professionals, thereby providing the necessary support and safeguards to promote employment and entrepreneurship and to advance the transformation and upgrading of China’s manufacturing sector.

Zhang Shunde, Vice Chairman of the Shaoxing Municipal Federation of Trade Unions, stated that the “Yuegong Cup” Welding Skills Competition has been successfully held for three sessions, establishing itself as a vital platform for workers to hone their skills, delve into technical expertise, and showcase their abilities. It also serves as an important vehicle for the trade unions to align with central priorities and support the broader national agenda, becoming a key avenue for our city to accelerate talent development and cultivate and select professionals across various vocational fields. As such, it provides robust human‑resource support for the city’s sustained and high‑quality economic and social development.

This “Yuegong Cup” Welding Skills Competition, conducted in accordance with the principles of openness, impartiality, and fairness, has provided a platform for welders to showcase their talents and excel. Through the competition, a large number of highly qualified, exceptionally skilled champions, model workers, and master craftsmen have emerged, vividly demonstrating the dedication, professional commitment, and relentless pursuit of excellence that characterize frontline workers. The event holds profound significance for accelerating the development of a skilled workforce within the city’s construction sector, vigorously promoting the “craftsman spirit,” and fostering the cultivation of Shaoxing‑style artisans.