On June 6, the Shaanxi Regional Final of the 31st China Daily “21st Century Cup” National English Speaking Competition concluded at Xi’an Jiaotong University. A total of 60 students from 21 universities in Shaanxi competed. Addressing the theme “Setbacks are one's greatest guarantee of success,” they drew on personal experience and observation to explore the relationship between setbacks and growth in the development of individuals, nations, and civilizations.
Northwest University was represented by Lei Zihan, a 2023-cohort Chinese Language and Literature major; Zhu Yixuan, a 2024-cohort Business Administration major; and Wei Zihan, a 2025-cohort English major. After intense competition, all three won Second Prize in Shaanxi and advanced to the national semifinals/finals scheduled for October this year. Their advisors Ma Li and Xuan Jing also received Second Prize in the Advisor Category. This set a record for Northwest University in the number of contestants advancing to the national round since it began participating in the competition.
The “21st Century Cup” National English Speaking Competition is hosted by China Daily and 21st Century English Education Media. It began as the sole Chinese qualifying competition for the International Public Speaking Competition founded by the English-Speaking Union. On March 22, 2023, it was included in the competition catalog of the National Analysis Report on Competitions for College Students, becoming one of the National Class A competitions officially recognized by the Ministry of Education of the People's Republic of China. Its achievements in enhancing Chinese youth's ability to tell China's story well, promoting exchanges and mutual learning among civilizations, and pooling youth strength for building a community with a shared future for mankind are widely recognized.
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