Yang Yongxiu works in a workshop of Changchun-based automaker FAW Group. [Photo provided to chinadaily.com.cn]

After receiving this year's China Youth May 4th Medal, Yang Yongxiu, a senior technician for Changchun-based automaker FAW Group in Jilin province, felt greater responsibility on his shoulders. It encouraged him to perform even better.

The medal, the highest honor for Chinese youth, which is given by the Central Committee of the Communist Youth League of China and the All-China Youth Federation, commends younger adults who have distinguished themselves in their fields.

Since joining FAW in 2010 in his early 20s, Yang has specialized in numerical control technology and mastered skills such as making automobile engine cylinders that meet extremely high standards — tolerances of less than 0.015 millimeter.

"There are more than 100 holes in an engine cylinder," he said. "To ensure a close connection between the cylinder and its cover, we must be highly accurate. That is the permanent standard for me and my team."

So far, he has been granted 18 national-level patents, solved a series of production-related problems and helped increase the revenue of the group by 12 million yuan ($1.76 million).

In 2016, Yang became a trainer and has been responsible for teaching young workers.

Since then, he has trained more than 700 people, some of whom have won awards, including 23 at the national level.

"I will continue to promote technical abilities," he said. "I hope we can write a new chapter with the power of youth in the future."