On November 28, 2025, the 36th International Student Chinese Speech Contest (Final) of Dalian University of Technology, organized by the School of International Education, concluded successfully at the Bochuan Library Auditorium. Prof. Duan Yuping, Dean of the School of International Education, attended the event and delivered a speech. Faculty and students from the School of International Education, as well as international students from various departments, jointly watched the competition.

This year's speech contest, themed "Expressing the Essence of China Through Language, Conveying the Spirit of China Through Voice," adopted a three-stage progressive competition system of "preliminary, semi-final, and final" for the first time. Since its launch on October 23, it attracted numerous international students to participate enthusiastically. After the preliminary and semi-final rounds, 18 contestants from 14 countries stood out and advanced to the final. The competition was divided into three categories: Beginner, Intermediate, and Advanced. Drawing from their personal experiences, the contestants shared stories about China and their heartfelt sentiments with genuine emotions and unique perspectives. From exploring "the wisdom behind Chinese characters" to sharing "the charm of Northeastern dialects," from savoring "the allure of Suzhou Pingtan" to focusing on "the development of China's autonomous vehicles," each vivid story showcased the contestants' passion for learning Chinese, their understanding of Chinese culture, their deep interest in contemporary China's development, and their sincere affection for the country, earning rounds of applause from the audience.  

After intense competition, ALHOUSSAINY DIALLO from Guinea (beginner), ELISABETH MAHUKLO DOHOU from Benin (intermediate), and PAKSUPO TEERAPUN from Thailand (advanced) won first prizes for their speeches titled "My Growth Journey," "The Little Girl's Motivation," and "From Scorching Thailand to Icy Northeast China," respectively. Six contestants, including KHAMWICHIT NATCHANON from Thailand, PALINA AVIARKIYEVA from Belarus, and HELLEN ERNIATI from Indonesia, won second prizes. Nine contestants, including ABDULLAHI MOHAMUD MUHUDIN from Somalia, HASAN MD RAJIB from Bangladesh, and GRACESELA KRISTIANA AVIANTO from Indonesia, won third prizes. Twelve contestants, including PAINDA MOHAMMAD FAYAZ from Afghanistan, NGUYEN THI HANG from Vietnam, and SHINE WANNA AUNG from Myanmar, received excellence awards.

（Group photo of first prize winners）

（Group photo of second prize winners）

（Group photo of third prize winners）

（Group photo of excellence award winners）

Additionally, students from the beginner classes of the Chinese Language Training Center presented an engaging "San Ju Ban" (a traditional Chinese comedic performance) and a dance performance, showcasing their achievements in Chinese language learning and cultural experiences over the past three months through artistic expression.

As the contest theme "Expressing the Essence of China Through Language, Conveying the Spirit of China Through Voice" conveys, this contest was not merely a language competition but also a heartfelt exchange. International students shared their encounters and connections with China through Chinese and conveyed the warmth of cross-cultural understanding through their voices. The contest not only provided students with a platform to showcase their Chinese proficiency and deepen their cultural awareness but also significantly enhanced their language expression and cross-cultural communication skills, further inspiring their enthusiasm for learning Chinese and exploring Chinese culture. The Dalian University of Technology International Student Chinese Speech Contest has been successfully held for 35 editions, becoming a key brand activity for international Chinese education at the university. In the future, the School of International Education will continue to serve as a bridge, organizing more language and cultural activities to create opportunities for international students to showcase themselves and engage in mutual learning. Through sharing stories of China, young people from around the world can better understand China, connect with China through mutual understanding, and jointly create a more open, diverse, and vibrant future.