The inaugural Zhejiang Skills Competition opens in Ningbo, Zhejiang province on Aug 16. [Photo/cnnb.com.cn]

The inaugural Zhejiang Skills Competition opened in Ningbo, Zhejiang province on Aug 16, according to local media reports. 

The contest's main venue is the Ningbo International Conference & Exhibition Center, while two sub-venues are set up at Ningbo Technician College and Ningbo Zhoushan Port Group. 

The competition, which will be held every two years, comes as part of Zhejiang's efforts to train and select skilled workers to attend the World Skills Competition and the China Vocational Skills Competition, as well as to fuel local economic and social development in the province. 

This year's competition consists of 30 events, primarily focusing on the fields of digital economy, modern service, and advanced manufacturing. Nearly 1,500 people from 11 cities across the province signed up for the event, among which 384 were selected to compete.

According to the organizing committee, winners of the contest will be granted both honorary titles and cash prizes. The champion in each event will awarded with 80,000 yuan ($11,594.2), while the figure for the runner-up is 50,000 yuan. The contestants who comes in third, fourth, and fifth are also set to be given 20,000 yuan each.

Contestants compete in the inaugural Zhejiang Skills Competition, which opened in Ningbo, Zhejiang province on Aug 16. [Photo/cnnb.com.cn]