The construction of a skills-based society necessitates the establishment of a lifelong learning ecosystem to ensure citizens continuously acquire, enhance, and update their skills throughout their lives. Key elements of this ecosystem include the actors in lifelong learning, diverse forms of education and learning, resource integration, and learning progression pathways. Building such an ecosystem urgently requires the enactment of national legislation, the formulation of a key competencies framework for lifelong learning, the establishment of structured learning pathways, and the enhancement of resource support systems. Consequently, it is essential to develop a safeguarding mechanism characterized by universal participation, comprehensive coordination, full lifecycle coverage, and seamless connectivity. This involves clarifying the key competencies framework, establishing institutional guarantees for lifelong learning with Chinese characteristics, constructing a national qualifications framework tailored to local contexts, and creating a multi-dimensional lifelong learning resource system.