A total of 20 people are honored as Suzhou's craftsmen of the year. [Photo/WeChat account: suzhoufabu365]
The Suzhou government has designated every April 28 as the city's Craftsman Day, aiming to promote craftsmanship, attract talent, and strengthen the local manufacturing brand, local media outlets reported on April 25.
A total of 20 people were honored as Suzhou's craftsmen of the year. Since 2016, when the award was initiated, a total of 59 people have been awarded this honor.
The establishment of Craftsman Day is an answer to the public's call for enhancing model workers' sense of honor, happiness, and belonging, enabling them to better play a leading role.
The establishment of the day also reveals Suzhou's determination to strengthen and promote its "Made-in-Suzhou" brand as craftsmen are the cornerstone of both traditional and emerging manufacturing industries that can facilitate both the industrial economy and digital economy, as well as boost innovation and entrepreneurship.
"A skills competition that gathers workers from nine cities involved in the G60 Science and Innovation Corridor of Yangtze River Delta region will be held in Suzhou this year. It is not only a stage for the professionals, but also an opportunity for Suzhou to encourage its workers and enrich the craftsmanship atmosphere," said Du Zheyi, vice-president of the Suzhou Federation of Trade Unions.
"We will take the opportunity of the Suzhou Craftsman Day and carry out more events and roll out more preferential policies to promote craftsmanship," Du added.
Last year, Suzhou established every July 10 as the city's Scientist Day.
