"I'm proud of two things. One is that customers recognize the quality of the products I make. The other is that I've seen my mostly young team members advance," he said.

"I'm very happy that one earned the highly skilled worker certificate at age 27. This makes me feel that the industry has a very promising future."

Shen has mentored newcomers and vocational-school students since 2010 and had helped train over 700 people from Anhui as of the end of 2021.

About 10 of his students have won prizes in skills competitions and eight have been awarded labor medals from their companies or Ma'anshan city.

"I've witnessed improvements in the speed and quality of wheel production over the past 20-plus years," Shen said.

"This progress represents the development of the country, which has grown into a manufacturing powerhouse. I'm grateful for this era and my company, which have provided opportunities to hone my talent."

He plans to continue this career until retirement.

"I believe the standards for being a skilled worker are higher than for a college graduate," he said.

"You need specialized knowledge, and a nimble mind and hands. I will continue to apply my passion and train more young skilled workers. Youth will propel future development."