Students demonstrate language skills and insights in competition

The grand finale of the "2024 Greater Bay Area Cup" Area Studies Contest for Foreign Language Students concluded at the Yuehai campus of Shenzhen University (SZU) on Sunday.

The finale was held simultaneously online and attracted nearly 100,000 views. Li Manyao, a Spanish major from Beijing Foreign Studies University, emerged as the winner of this year's competition.

An on-site view of the competition. Courtesy from the competition organizers

The competition attracted 1,531 applicants from 191 universities nationwide. Following the preliminary and semi-final rounds, a total of 57 students advanced to compete for the ultimate title.

Participants were grouped into six categories based on their language majors (English, non-English, German, French, Spanish, and Japanese) to vie for the top prize within each group. Subsequently, the victors of each group contended for the overall championship.

The final competition Sunday comprised two segments, themed "Presenting China's Narrative in Foreign Languages" and "Providing Recommendations for the Nation" respectively. These segments aimed to evaluate contestants' abilities in presenting a genuine, multi-faceted, and comprehensive portrayal of China to the global audience, along with offering valuable insights into the developmental challenges encountered by businesses, cities, and the country. Contestants were required to deliver their presentations in the foreign language corresponding to their group, as well as in Chinese.

Participants delivered compelling speeches on various topics including China’s "dual circulation" development pattern (in which domestic and overseas markets reinforce each other, with the domestic market as the mainstay), China's progress and globalization, a community with a shared future for mankind, international cultural exchanges, and China's advancements in renewable energy.

During his address, Li Yonghua, the vice president of SZU, acknowledged the dedication of the participating students and emphasized that the experience gained during the competition preparation process is a valuable asset. He highlighted the importance of nurturing individuals with interdisciplinary knowledge, innovation capabilities, and a global perspective in the current era of global transformations.

The contest was jointly organized by SZU's College of International Studies, the Institute of Area and International Communication Studies at SZU, and the School of Foreign Languages at Shenzhen Technology University.