Contestants taking part in the English Speaking Union's 2023 International Public Speaking Competition pose for a group photo during the semifinal in London, England on Thursday. (Photo by Chen Huan / China Daily)
The English-language abilities of students from the Chinese mainland impressed judges at the English Speaking Union's 2023 International Public Speaking Competition, in London, England.
Lucia Dumont Renard, a former president of the English Speaking Union's international council and former chairperson of ESU France who is a senior English public speaking training officer, said: "We were all amazed at their capacity to express themselves. It's excellent English."
The competition, which was held from May 8 to May 12, chose "Relations between nations are too important to be left to the government alone" as its theme for the final.
After three years that were impacted by the novel coronavirus pandemic, the ESU held an in-person contest, with contestants from more than 30 countries and regions competing and exchanging ideas, including two contestants from the Chinese mainland.
Liu Bowen, a Peking University student and first-prize winner of the "21st Century Cup", also delivers a speech at the event. [Photo by Chen Huan / China Daily]
Liu Bowen, a 20-year-old from Peking University, said after delivering an impromptu speech during the heats on Thursday morning and ahead of presenting a prepared speech in the afternoon: "I think I generally did a great job. I conveyed all of the thoughts that I meant to convey, and I'm very proud to stand among all the international contestants from over 30 countries and regions, (which means) China is having an increasing voice in the global vision."
The competition brought together students aged 16 to 20. Chinese mainland contestants had to first perform well in the China Daily 21st Century Cup National English Speaking Competition.
Liu won first prize at the 27th China Daily 21st Century Cup.
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