Build beautiful life for skillful workers

China should accelerate implementing a "blue-collar strategy" and let technical workers become rich, according to Long Yongtu, a member of the International Advisory Committee of the Boao Forum for Asia.

Speaking at the Fourth World Footwear Development Forum held in Dongguan, Guangdong province, Long said skillful workers and technicians are crucial if the country is to successfully transform from "made in China" to "created in China", and essential if it is to adapt to the industrial and technological changes taking place around the world.

As domestic enterprises start focusing on industrial transformation and production upgrading, overall efforts need to be made to improve the quality of the workforce in order to accelerate the manufacturing industry's development, said Long, also a former vice-minister of foreign trade and economic cooperation.