Contest grows with the times

For Agyapong Juliana from Ghana, what matters more is not winning or losing. "When you travel from your country, you don't really have a lot of chances to express yourself," said the 22-year-old. "It (the competition) is a chance for me to put myself out there for people to know more about Africa, where I'm from and what Africa really means."

The"21st Century Cup" was initiated by the China Daily Group in 1996. It encourages students to improve their English public speaking skills, utilize creativity, and broaden their international view. The annual competition spans across various cities in China, with more than 80 regions participating.