Gold Medalists in Skills Competition Answer the Interview: Lack of Skilled Talents, Hope to Attract More Young People.
On January 16th, the State Council Information Office held a press conference, where representatives of the gold medalists from the 47th World Skills Competition met with Chinese and foreign reporters to talk about their experiences in skills development and how they used their skills to serve their country. Among them was Liu Xinru, a 22-year-old student from Wuzhong Vocational and Technical College in Suzhou. Liu won a gold medal in the sugar craft/bakery segment at the competition, becoming the first Chinese player to do so in this category. Liu Xinru expressed that obtaining the first gold medal in sugar craft/bakery was a “zero breakthrough” and required a lot of effort.
Liu Xinru introduced that the sugar craft/bakery event was not only pleasing to the eye but also full of sweet flavors, but it was not simple behind the scenes. She showed the photo of her largest sugar craft creation at the competition scene, which was “1.2 meters tall, made entirely of sugar without any support, and was hand-formed, making it very challenging.”
In addition to her sugar craft works, there were also more familiar western pastries. Liu Xinru said that the production process was equally challenging. “During our competition, we had to accurately measure over 180 ingredients in 15 formulas within an hour and produce according to customer needs and available materials, which was a great test of our creativity, physical strength, and endurance.”
At the press conference, Liu Xinru also shared that the sugar craft/bakery event was both challenging and sweet. “During our regular training, the temperature of the sugar needs to reach 80-90 degrees Celsius, and we need to do it by hand even with silicone gloves on. We often get burned, and it’s common to have one bubble just heal while another one appears. Large pieces are difficult to assemble, often falling over or breaking apart at the last moment, which can be frustrating. We also often feel lost when we can’t find inspiration.”
“During training, we often stand for eight or nine hours, which causes shoulder pain, but I still persevered because strong passion can overcome all difficulties. Like my WeChat signature says, ‘the sharpness of a sword comes from its being honed through use; the fragrance of a plum blossom comes from its growing in bitter cold.'”
Regarding her achievements, Liu Xinru said she would divide them into three breakthroughs. The first is technological breakthroughs. Sugar craft/bakery originated in Europe, and Chinese players have been striving for many years to achieve this gold medal. Now that they have achieved this goal, it is akin to a foreign player winning a championship in a Chinese cuisine competition. This achievement proves that China’s technical capabilities have reached world-class standards.
The second breakthrough is in industry prospects. Liu Xinru mentioned that winning a gold medal in sugar craft/bakery shows our technical leadership in this field. It can drive technological advancements in the dessert market, provide more precise formulas and flavor combinations, and enable people to quickly make desserts according to standards, achieving popularization, digitalization, and standardization while expanding employment opportunities. “We know there is still a large talent gap in this field. Through various competitions and performances, we can attract more young people to understand this industry and encourage them to start their own businesses, whether opening a dessert shop, studio, or doing media work. I believe that sugar craft/bakery can bring more possibilities to everyone.”
The third breakthrough is unique to China. “That is integrating with Chinese culture and flavors. Elements like lion dance, opera, face changing, blue and white porcelain, and Suzhou embroidery can all be expressed through sugar craft, making it more attractive. By doing so, people can experience the wonders of Chinese traditional culture melting in their mouths while enjoying this sweet taste.” said Liu Xinru.