The 5th foreign languages speech contest for introducing henan to the world kicks off in Zhengzhou

Henan Daily

Zhengzhou: On July 15, the 5th Foreign Languages Speech Contest for Introducing Henan to the World officially kicked off in Zhengzhou city, central China’s Henan province. The contest is guided by Henan People’s Association for Friendship with Foreign Countries (HPAFFC) and Henan Association of Higher Education (HAHE), co-sponsored by Henan Translators’ Association (HTA), Dingduan News, Henan International Communication Center (HICC), Henan Economic Chamber of Commerce (HECC), and HAHE’s Foreign Language Teaching Research Branch, and undertaken by Zhengzhou Guancheng Cultural Industry Association (GCIA).

With the theme of “Voicing the Scene, Staging Central Plains”, this year’s contest aims to encourage participants to dig deep into the connotations of Henan culture and present its unique charm to the world.

At the opening ceremony, more than 50 experts in language and international cultural communication, heads of foreign language departments from universities and colleges, and representatives from international enterprises gathered to explore new ways to enhance Henan’s global outreach through language as a bridge.

Since its establishment, the contest has been dedicated to promoting Henan’s voice globally through foreign languages. It has successfully held four previous editions. The most recent edition attracted nearly 100 universities and close to 1,000 participants. Stories told by outstanding contestants – such as “Restoration of the Longmen Grottoes” and “The Inheritance of Bian Embroidery as Intangible Cultural Heritage” – have been praised by Chinese diplomatic envoys to foreign countries, effectively fostering cultural exchange between Henan and the international community.

A contest organizing committee has been established, with three dedicated working groups – for liaison, promotion, and operations – to ensure its smooth operation. Detailed registration information will be released in a timely manner via Dingduan News, which will also host a special section to provide real-time updates on the contest’s progress.

As part of the opening ceremony, a school-enterprise exchange activity was also held, offering a platform for dialogue between foreign language departments of universities and representatives from industry.