Chongqing - On November 9, the final of the 3rd "TALK IN Chongqing" Foreign Language Speech Contest was held at the Chongqing Municipal Foreign Affairs Office. The event was hosted by the Foreign Affairs Office of the Chongqing Municipal People's Government and the Chongqing People's Association for Friendship with Foreign Countries.

On November 9, the final of the 3rd "TALK IN Chongqing" Foreign Language Speech Contest was held at the Chongqing Municipal Foreign Affairs Office. (Photo/The event organizer)

Centered on the theme "My Chongqing, My City," 27 outstanding contestants from China and abroad took to the stage to share heartfelt stories of Chongqing's openness, vitality, and human warmth — using language as a bridge between cultures. After a day of impressive performances, He Zhiting from Southwest University, Shen Nan from the First Affiliated Hospital of Chongqing Medical University, and Giorgio Palmiero from the International Education Center of Chongqing Bashu Secondary School won first prizes in the Chinese-English College Group, Professional Group, and Foreigners' Chinese Group, respectively.

After a day of impressive performances, He Zhiting from Southwest University, Shen Nan from the First Affiliated Hospital of Chongqing Medical University, and Giorgio Palmiero from the International Education Center of Chongqing Bashu Secondary School won first prizes in the Chinese-English College Group, Professional Group, and Foreigners' Chinese Group, respectively.  (Photo/The event organizer)

This year's contest continued its signature format, combining thematic speeches and impromptu Q&A, designed to comprehensively assess contestants' language proficiency, cultural knowledge, and cross-cultural communication skills. 

The judging panel included consular officials from foreign missions in Chongqing, representatives from international business associations, university language experts, and senior media professionals. Additionally, international students from Southwest University and Chongqing University of Technology were invited to serve as public judges, bringing a diverse global perspective to the competition.

In the Professional Group, Dr. Shen Nan from the First Affiliated Hospital of Chongqing Medical University delivered an inspiring speech titled "Opening the Door to the World." Through three symbolic "doors," she recounted moving stories from her work in the hospital's International Medical Department — from treating an American patient who gifted his slippers as a token of gratitude, to caring for a Malaysian Alzheimer's patient, to saving the life of an Australian entrepreneur who later tattooed "I love Chongqing" on his arm. Her heartfelt stories reflected Chongqing's growing reputation as a "health harbor" that connects the world with both medical excellence and human compassion.

In the afternoon, the Chinese-language segment evolved into a celebration of international talent, as contestants from Thailand, Italy, the United States, and other countries impressed the audience with their fluent Chinese speeches, sharing their love for the city's openness, inclusiveness, and charm.

On November 9, the final of the 3rd "TALK IN Chongqing" Foreign Language Speech Contest was held at the Chongqing Municipal Foreign Affairs Office. (Photo/The event organizer)

After a full day of competition, the jury awarded three first prizes, 6 second prizes, 10 third prizes, and eight excellence awards. Public judges also selected six "City Ambassadors" who will have the opportunity to join Chongqing's talent pool for foreign-language professionals and participate in the city's international exchange activities, contributing to Chongqing's development as a major international communication center in western China.

At the award ceremony, Wang Wen, Director-General of the Foreign Affairs Office of the Chongqing Municipal Government, congratulated the winners and commended the competition's achievements. She noted that over the past three years, "TALK IN Chongqing" has become an important platform for discovering linguistic talent and cultivating the city's international communication capabilities. "As the contest grows, its topics have deepened, its reach has widened, and its participants have become an integral force in advancing Chongqing's openness to the world," Wang said.

Anthony Preston, British Consul General in Chongqing, served as a judge for the first time this year. He remarked that the competition showcased people from diverse nationalities learning one another's languages, deepening mutual understanding, and fostering inclusiveness and shared growth. "I was deeply moved by the high caliber of all the contestants," he said. "Many of their stories about living and working in Chongqing reminded me of my own early days here 25 years ago — a city full of opportunities but also challenges of integration and communication. It's through the bridge of language that people from different cultures can truly connect and support each other."

Anthony Preston, British Consul General in Chongqing, served as a judge for the first time this year. (Photo/The event organizer)

Eda, an Italian language teacher at Chongqing People's Primary School and one of the foreign contestants, said the competition transformed her from an observer of life in Chongqing into a deeper interpreter of its culture. She expressed her wish to become a "two-way cultural translator" and "bridge builder of friendship" — sharing Italy's culture in Chongqing classrooms while bringing vivid stories of Chongqing back to her family and friends in Italy. She also hopes to create opportunities for youth exchange between the two regions to strengthen China–Italy friendship.

Launched in June, this year's contest attracted over 200 participants from sectors including trade, education, tourism, healthcare, and sports. After several rounds of rigorous selection, 27 finalists made it to the grand finale. The competition once again served as a vibrant platform for cross-cultural communication, offering the world a more vivid, multidimensional, and authentic image of Chongqing—a city where stories transcend mountains and seas.