The launch ceremony of the 21st Century National English Speaking Competition was held in Beijing Wednesday. The contest is co-sponsored by China Daily, Coca-Cola Greater China and New Oriental School, and organized by 21st Century Education Media. It is the 21th 21st Century Coca-Cola Cup and 14th 21st Century New Oriental Cup National English Speaking Competition.
由中國日報社與可口可樂大中華區、新東方聯合主辦，21世紀英語教育傳媒承辦的第21屆中國日報社“21世紀?可口可樂杯”全國英語演講比賽、第14屆中國日報社“21世紀?新東方杯”全國英語演講比賽啟動儀式于5月13日在京隆重舉行。

Zhang Hongbin, deputy director of the International Liaison Office of the State Council Information Office, attended the ceremony and delivered a speech. “Professionals with international vision are strongly needed during the process of One Belt and One Road construction being promoted by the country,” according to Zhang. Students could be trained and encouraged through this contest, which can play a part in improving their communication skills.
國務院新聞辦國際聯絡局副局長張洪斌出席啟動儀式并致辭。他表示，在我國大力推動“一帶一路”的建設大業過程中，十分需要高水平的國際化專業人才。“21世紀杯”全國英語演講比賽既是一個“訓練營”，也是一個“推進器”，一直發揮著提升青年學子綜合素質，尤其是增強國際交往能力的作用。

David Brooks, president for Coca-Cola Greater China and South Korea, shared his feelings of living and working in China for 40 years in his speech. He said great changes have taken place in China’s international communication since reform and opening up. Mastering a foreign language is like putting a credit card in your pocket, he said. You will benefit from both of them in your whole life. Coca Cola has been promoting the 21st Century National English Competition in the past four years and will continue to support the competition, Brooks added.
可口可樂大中華區及韓國區副總裁魯大衛在致辭中分享了他在中國生活、工作40年的親身感受，贊許了中國改革開放以來在國際化交流方面發生的巨大變化。他將掌握外語的技能比作在口袋里放一張永遠花不完錢的信用卡，終身受益。他表示，可口可樂公司不僅在過去的四年連續推廣“21世紀杯”，并將在未來繼續支持比賽。

Wang Ximin, deputy editor-in-chief with China Daily, delivered a speech and announced an innovative adjustment plan. He said this competition has become a traditional one in domestic education circle. “We are always working to establish a platform for school-to-school, student-to-student, and student-to-society communication. We are striving to make greater contributions to English education and healthy growth of students,” said Wang.
中國日報社副總編輯王西民致辭并宣布賽事創新性調整計劃。他表示，21世紀杯英語演講比賽已成為國內英語教育界的一項傳統賽事，始終致力于搭建起學校與學校、學生與學生、學校與社會交流的平臺，為學校的英語教育以及學生的健康成長做出更大貢獻。

Other guests who attended the ceremony included Tang Wensheng, vice-chairperson of the Soong Ching Ling Foundation; Liu Na, researcher of the liaison office of Working Committee for the Care of the Next Generation; Luo Ping, assistant vice-president of Beijing New Oriental Education Techonology; and Sun Jisheng, assistant to the dean of China Foreign Affairs University. A total of 200 attendees were at the launch ceremony.
主席啟動儀式的嘉賓還有中國宋慶齡基金會副主席唐聞生、中國關心下一代工作委員會辦公室聯絡處調研員劉娜、北京新東方教育科技（集團）有限公司助理副總裁羅娉，外交學院院長助理孫吉勝等。大賽各協作單位、院校代表、指導教師、學生選手及新聞媒體代表等近200人共同見證了新一屆賽事的啟動。

（中國日報英語點津 王偉）