The Third Shanghai Cooperation Organization (SCO) Countries Worker Skills Contest was held in Qingdao on December 18. Organized by the All-China Federation of Trade Unions (ACFTU), the event was co-hosted by the Shandong and Qingdao trade unions with support from the Qingdao Technical College and Haier Group. Vice Chairman and Secretary of the ACFTU Wei Dichun, also in his capacity as ACFTU CCP Group Member attended the opening ceremony.

The contest—the first workers' skills exchange event hosted by China since assuming the SCO rotating presidency after the "SCO+" Summit in Astana—closely aligns with the economic needs, technical development priorities, and participation interests of SCO member states, featuring a mix of individual- and team-based events across three categories: industrial robot operation and adjustment, intelligent manufacturing control, and assembly fitting.

The competition leverages the multi-dimensional and broad-based exchange opportunities among workers from SCO member states through a combination of competitions, training sessions, skill exchanges, thematic lectures, company visits, and cultural tours to enhance participation and engagement while fostering technical proficiency, mutual learning, and camaraderie among participants. Pre-event activities included thematic lectures, hands-on training, and warm-up Q&A sessions. Contestants were entertained with a tour of the China-SCO Demonstration Area (SCODA) and other prominent Qingdao enterprises following the competition, gaining insights into China's approaches to talent development, corporate growth, social progress, and openness to global collaboration.

Since 2017, the ACFTU has successfully organized two previous SCO Workers' Skills Competitions, hosted the SCO Workers' Skills Exchange Camp in 2018, and launched the SCO Master Craftsman Workshop in 2021. These initiatives have become well-regarded flagship events within the SCO community, earning active participation and widespread acclaim from workers across member states.

The opening ceremony was attended by Qingdao officials Wang Bo and Zhang Jiangang, as well as government officials, experts, and skilled worker representatives from 14 countries, including SCO member states, observer countries, and dialogue partners.