Contest inspires speakers to explore global challenges

Young participants in this year's China Daily 21st Century Coca-Cola Cup National English Speaking Competition offered deep insights into the themes of the Belt and Road Initiative and China's new era.

Zang Yingjie from Qufu Normal University in Shandong province, for example, drew inspiration from his experience growing up with the scientific theories of Stephen Hawking, the British physicist who died recently, and how the changing landscape in China's technological realm helped him understand these theories better.

"We're all made of particles that have existed since the beginning of the universe," Zang, 20, said in his speech. "I'd like to believe those particles traveled through countless eras to create us, so that we - the people, China and the world - can stand on the shoulders of giants, march into the new era with our head held high and make people like professor Hawking proud."