Young orators from across the Asia-Pacific gathered for the closing ceremony of the 8th Belt and Road Youth English Speaking Competition Southeast Asian Region Finals at Bangkok’s Chulalongkorn University on Saturday.

Against the backdrop of deepening regional cooperation and evolving global landscapes, the annual event served as a platform for youth-led cross-cultural dialogue, turning linguistic talent into bridges of mutual understanding.

Champions and the first and second runners-up were crowned across the youth and junior categories, selected from a pool of 39 finalists to represent the region on the global stage.

Held concurrently with the MicUp! Regional Finals Thailand 2026, the competition drew more than 1,000 applicants from nine countries and regions, including Bangladesh, Myanmar, Thailand, the Philippines, and Nepal, with a mission to nurture cross-cultural exchanges and amplify youth perspectives on world issues. Focused on this year’s theme of “Alone We Fail, Together We Prevail”, the contestants delivered prepared speeches and impromptu remarks, showcasing both linguistic proficiency and critical thinking.

Htoo Thinzar Chit of Yangon, Myanmar, the champion in the youth category, said her victory marked a triumphant comeback following her 2023 regional round appearance without an award. She said the breakthrough in impromptu speaking and the drive to inspire others through public speaking were her biggest takeaways from the competition.

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She also shared her long-cherished aspiration to pursue higher education in the Hong Kong Special Administrative Region, preferably at her dream school, the University of Hong Kong, as she was drawn to the city’s standing as a regional hub for cross-cultural exchanges and its alignment with her goal of connecting communities across borders through communication.

In the junior category, champion Nont Reetanon, a 14-year-old Grade 9 student from Bangkok, described the success as an extraordinary milestone marking his first-ever participation in a major international public speaking contest. “It was really amazing because it’s the first major international competition I’ve taken part in and the first I had signed up for. So, I feel it’s really great to get this one,” he said, noting he had spent months brushing up on how to present his speech through successive rounds, and felt deep resonance with the topic.

Nongnaphat Techamaneevat, a 17-year-old high school student also from Thailand and a youth category finalist, said public speaking serves as a vital bridge for world peace by enabling the sharing of ideas and mutual inspiration across borders. “Speaking is one of the keys to success in peace because when you speak, you actually inspire a lot of people to do the same. People can share ideas and their ideas can inspire others,” she said, adding that the competition has offered her a platform to voice her vision for collaborative development that aligned closely with the Belt and Road Initiative’s spirit of shared growth and cross-border links.

Winners will have the chance to advance to the international grand final in China later this year, or take part in an immersive cultural tour of major Chinese cities.

Argus Ang, CEO of The RVi Group, underscored the in-person competition’s unique value for Belt and Road youth exchange. “Artificial intelligence can replace people, but it can’t replace those who know how to use AI. One of the most important things is the physical communication among people — it’s very important,” he said.

Ang noted that the event has fostered cross-cultural inspiration among Asian youth and aligns with the Belt and Road vision of people-to-people connections and shared growth.

Trent Nelson, head judge of the competition, said he has noted the steadily higher quality of contestants during his four years as a judge. It’s the third time he has served as chief judge for the Southeast Asian regional final.

“The junior contestants were much more confident than they had been in previous years, and the youth category delivered incredibly tough competition, making it hard to narrow down the very top contenders,” he said.

He described this year’s topic as a fitting and timely focus that underscores how collective effort is paramount to achieving shared goals. “These young speakers show incredible talent, confidence and drive for success,” Nelson said. “We’re looking at future leaders here.”

Fan Yuehang, a judge and 2022 winner of the 21st Century Cup National English Speaking Competition who has long been associated with the event, said the competition embodies the Belt and Road spirit of joint consultation and co-construction by gathering diverse cultures to share their stories and civilizations. He cited a contestant’s account of her country’s journey from division to unity as a vivid reflection of that vision, and said he looked forward to more cross-cultural exchanges at the grand final in China.

Robert Chua, a former Singaporean ambassador to Myanmar and guest of honor at the finals, praised the event as a powerful showcase of Asian youth talent and a major pillar of Belt and Road people-to-people connectivity.

“It was a wonderful day to see the wide range of talents across the junior and youth categories in both their prepared speeches and impromptu answers. It shows that within our Asian region, there are many talented new generations,” he said. From a diplomatic perspective, he noted that young people across Belt and Road-participating countries and regions are the architects of future regional peace and shared prosperity, and their vision and dynamism will continue to drive Asia’s growth story in the 21st century.

Since its launch in 2019, the China Daily Belt and Road Youth English Speaking Competition has grown into a flagship international event for young speakers, providing a dynamic stage for teenagers worldwide to connect, learn and grow. To date, it has engaged over 10,000 contestants from 51 countries and regions, embracing a spirit of multicultural exchange and youth empowerment.

Co-organized by VDO English, China Daily Hong Kong’s educational unit, and RVIPS, the publishing and events arm of Singapore-based RVi Group, the annual competition celebrates top linguistic talent across the region. Its core mission remains to elevate youth voices and support the next generation in becoming active participants in global dialogue, advancing the people-to-people mission of the Belt and Road Initiative.

Contact the writers at evanhuang@chinadailyhk.com