On December 10th, the final and award ceremony of the 2024 Shaanxi Province Foreign Language Speech Competition for Chinese-Foreign Cooperative Education Programs was held at the Chang’an Campus of Northwestern University. The event was hosted by the Shaanxi Provincial Department of Education, with co-organisers including the Shaanxi Higher Education Society’s Chinese-Foreign Cooperative Education Sub-committee and Northwestern University. A total of 20 outstanding students from 15 Chinese-Foreign cooperative education institutions (programmes) across the province participated in the competition. Among the participants, QMES 2023 undergraduate students Zeng Ziqin and Huang Yike performed exceptionally well, winning the second and third prizes, respectively. Additionally, 2024 undergraduate student Geng Tao received an Excellence Award.

The competition, themed ‘Inheriting Chinese Cultural Heritage and Building Cultural Confidence”, aimed to highlight the distinctive internationalisation of Chinese education. It sought to guide young students in fostering a strong sense of patriotism, expanding their global perspectives, preserving Chinese cultural traditions, and reinforcing their cultural confidence.

Centred around the theme of the competition, Zeng Ziqin used the representative symbol of the Chinese nation, the “dragon”, as the central thread of her speech. Drawing on her personal growth experiences, she introduced notable Chinese historical artifacts and outstanding achievements in technological innovation at NPU. Through this, she vividly illustrated the profound influence and esteemed status of the “dragon” in Chinese culture, showcasing the depth, richness, and unique charm of Chinese civilisation.

Huang Yike began by referencing Black Myth: Wukong, the first domestic 3A game to win an international award, to highlight the global impact and reach of Chinese culture. He then discussed the significant achievements made by China in the high-quality development of the Belt and Road Initiative, demonstrating the nation’s role as a responsible global power. Huang Yike emphasized that only by adhering to principles of integrity and innovation, enriching pathways, and delving deeply into the spiritual core of Chinese culture, can China more effectively promote its culture abroad. He called on youth to strengthen their cultural confidence and actively engage in the inheritance and development of China’s excellent traditional culture, contributing to the prosperity of Chinese civilisation.

It is reported that the competition also invited several distinguished leaders, including Gao Wei, the Second-Level Inspector from the Education Working Committee of the Shaanxi Provincial Committee, Wen Tong, the Director of the Foreign Affairs Office of the Shaanxi Provincial Department of Education, and Kong Jie, the Vice President and Secretary-General of the Sub-Committee for Chinese-Foreign Cooperative Education under the Shaanxi Higher Education Association.

Gao Wei stated that the competition is not only a concrete action to implement the spirit of the 20th National Congress of the Communist Party of China and the Third Plenary Session of the 20th CPC Central Committee but also a vivid manifestation of the important educational principles outlined by President Xi Jinping and the spirit of the National Education Conference. It showcases the significant achievements in talent development within Chinese-foreign cooperative education at universities across the province. He encouraged students to continue honing their language skills, promote traditional Chinese culture, broaden their international perspectives, and strive to become the new generation responsible for the great task of national rejuvenation.

The competition not only highlighted the outstanding language proficiency and deep cultural foundation of QMES students but also underscored their sense of responsibility and commitment as the youth of the era. It is believed that in the days to come, QMES students will further strengthen their patriotic sentiments, expand their international horizons, carry forward the cultural heritage of China, and cultivate a strong sense of cultural confidence.

Text: Ma Xiaoxuan

Photo: Northwest University

Edit: Chen Xinyan

Translate: Shen Xinyi

Review: Cheng Yin