Promise of Gen Z

From Oct 4 to Oct 6, the China Daily “21st Century Cup” National English Speaking Competition was held in Chengdu, Sichuan province. A total of 1 million people, ranging from kindergarten kids to young professionals, participated in this year’s event.

During the three-day event, young contestants gave speeches on various themes, including History As a Mirror, The Promise of Youth and The Power of Ideals. They demonstrated their English ability and shared their perspectives as members of Generation Z, or Gen Zers.

The “21st Century Cup” was initiated by the China Daily Group in 1996. It encourages students to improve their English public speaking skills, utilize creativity and broaden their international perspectives. When the competition was launched, the aim was to train college students to be proficient in another language and communicate clearly with the world. However, in the 25 years since then, the competition has gone far beyond this simple goal. It now plays a role in helping document every major step the country takes in its development, while also encouraging young people to share China’s stories with the world and providing a stage for those who will shape the future.

Mei Deming, a professor of English and linguistics at Shanghai International Studies University, said that to tell China’s story to the world, Gen Zers must first love their motherland, the Party and the people. In addition, they should have a global perspective and understand the importance of building a community with a shared future for mankind, he said.

Wang Guan, a former “21st Century Cup” contestant and a news anchor and host at CGTN, said that Gen Zers need to tell China’s story well with empathy and nuance. They should have empathy for other cultures and for what their counterparts are experiencing. Moreover, they should have the ability to present nuanced explanations of what China and Chinese culture are.