The 2024 "Panda Cup" Chinese Youth Speech Contest celebrates the 40th anniversary of the establishment of the Chinese Consulate General in Toronto

On November 24, 2024, the final of the 2024 "China Panda Cup" Student Speech Contest, hosted by the Chinese Consulate General in Toronto and organized by the Canadian Chinese Education Association, was successfully held in Richmond Hill, Greater Toronto Area. Chinese young people also congratulated the 40th anniversary of the establishment of the Chinese Consulate General in Toronto in a special way.

More than 50 primary and secondary school students from Ontario, Manitoba, and other provinces in Canada participated in the final competition through a combination of live and ZOOM videos, and won first, second, third, and excellent awards. Among them, Bu Xiaoling won the championship of the high school native born group, Yan Zicheng won the championship of the high school new immigrant group, Liang Jing won the championship of the primary school native born group, and Yang Ziheng won the championship of the primary school new immigrant group.

Champion of the local student group in high school, Bu Xiaoling

Yan Zicheng, champion of the high school new immigrant group

Champion of Primary School Native Produce Group, Liang Jiao

Primary school new immigrant champion Yang Ziheng

The "Panda Cup" student speech competition requires Chinese young participants to independently create and complete a three minute speech. The theme of the high school group's speech is "Celebrating the 40th Anniversary of the Founding of the Chinese Consulate General in Toronto". The theme of the elementary school group's speech is "My Chinese Story".

In the finals, contestants from the high school group shared their and their families' experiences of the consular protection and services provided by the Chinese Consulate General in Toronto. Especially during the epidemic, the Consulate General actively promoted the "Spring Sprout Action" and provided epidemic prevention items such as "health kits" and "Spring Festival kits", allowing those overseas to feel the care of their homeland. Some of the elementary school contestants shared their experiences of Chinese cuisine and scenery during their travels and visits to China; Some athletes tell stories of themselves and their grandmother crossing the ocean to "chase stars" and being deeply encouraged by Chinese Olympic athlete Sun Yingsha to start exercising; Some students also put on traditional costumes such as Hanfu and Mongolian clothing, and talked about their favorite Chinese historical figures such as Mulan and Genghis Khan.

Cheng Hongbo, Vice Consul General of China in Toronto

Chinese Vice Consul General in Toronto, Cheng Hongbo, said in his speech that overseas Chinese, especially the younger generation, no matter where they are, Chinese will always be their deepest homesickness and their intimate connection with China and Chinese culture. China's modernization has continuously achieved brilliant achievements, providing a broader stage and space for the vast number of Chinese and overseas Chinese, especially the younger generation, to showcase their talents and achieve their careers. He hopes that Chinese young people can learn Chinese to better understand the current development and changes in China, and closely link their future development with China's development. Chinese civilization is diverse, inclusive, and open. Learning Chinese and promoting Chinese culture among Canadian Chinese youth is also a way to enrich and develop Canada's multiculturalism. We hope that the younger generation of today has a global perspective.

Chen Guozhi, Deputy Mayor of Markham, Ontario, Canada, Yang Qiqing, City Councilor of Markham, and Cui Binghui, City Councilor of Wenshan, Liezhi, also attended the finals and delivered congratulatory speeches, expressing strong support for the "Panda Cup" speech competition.

Deputy Mayor of Wanjin City, Chen Guozhi, City Councilor Yang Qiqing, and Wenshan City Councilor Cui Binghui

The "China Panda Cup" series of competitions is a brand series of activities founded by the Chinese Consulate General in Toronto in 2013. Over the past decade, it has attracted tens of thousands of Chinese students to participate and has been widely welcomed by parents. It has played a positive role in promoting Chinese language and culture learning for Canadian Chinese youth. The Canadian Chinese Language Education Association will collect and publish the award-winning works of this finals.