On July 1, the CICA Skills Competition officially got underway in Guangzhou, bringing together worker representatives from more than 20 CICA member states and several observer states. Around 80 foreign delegates attended the event.
The competition featured three events: Bricklaying, UAV Assembly, Adjustment, and Maintenance, and Intelligent Operation and Inspection of High-Voltage Cables. Covering traditional infrastructure, emerging technologies, and energy security, the events were designed to be forward-looking, widely applicable, and practical.
Odiljon Saifiddinzoada, a competitor from Tajikistan in the Intelligent Operation and Inspection of High-Voltage Cables event, said he was deeply impressed by Guangzhou's culture and cuisine. "I feel it is a rare opportunity to interact with competitors from various countries during today's competition," Odiljon added.
As a young technical worker, Odiljon said he cherished the chance to demonstrate his skills on an international stage while learning from peers from other countries. His coach, Mamadamon Abdullo, who has visited China several times, spoke highly of China's ability to organize such events. He said the competition was well coordinated in terms of organization, venue setup, and logistical support. He was particularly impressed by the provision of interpreters for all participants, which helped competitors and technical staff from different language backgrounds communicate smoothly.
Gugun Hidayat, an Indonesian participant in the Bricklaying category, is representing his country in an international competition for the first time. It is also his first trip abroad. At the welcome banquet on June 30, he tried Chinese cuisine for the first time and said, "Peking duck is delicious."
Liang Zhibin, a teacher at Guangzhou Urban Construction Vocational School and technical advisor for the Bricklaying event, said the event's design incorporated elements of both the year 2026 and the Year of the Horse. Contestants were required to complete an artistic wall featuring numerical and horse-themed designs within three and a half hours. He said competitors from participating countries demonstrated a high level of skill.
The Intelligent Operation and Inspection of High-Voltage Cables event focuses on front-line areas such as energy security and smart cities. Li Meng, an engineer at the Guangzhou Power Supply Bureau and a member of the event's technical support team, said the team handled the full process from pre-competition preparations and workstation supplies to on-site support and coordination.
"Because many competitors were unfamiliar with the local environment, we provided support with competition procedures, equipment use, and operational guidance to help them compete smoothly," Li said. "Dedicated interpreters were available on site, and some technical staff on our team could also communicate in English."
Reporter & Photo | Ma Yitian
