Voicing their pride

Mei Deming, the contest's chairman of the jury and an expert with the Ministry of Education in the setting of English curriculum standards, said that it is the epitome of success for the country's foreign language education when youngsters can confidently use those languages to tell China's stories, especially ones related to the development of the CPC and the Party's leadership throughout the construction of a socialist country.

"A better understanding of the CPC is essential to understand modern China. We speak foreign languages to tell China's stories and communicate with foreigners about the common values of mankind," said Mei.

"Each of us is a witness to the motherland's development. By piecing together the small stories happening around us, we're actually creating the bigger picture of the country's prosperous and vigorous development," he said.

He added that they are considering the inclusion of expats studying and working in Shanghai in such contests in the future, as they, too, are witnesses and participants of the country's development.