Awards ceremony for Panda Cup Japan Youth Essay Contest held in Beijing
The awards ceremony for the Panda Cup Japan Youth Essay Contest was held in Beijing on Friday.
Approximately 70 people attended the ceremony, including award winners from the 2022 and 2024 contests, judges, organizers, and media professionals.
Du Zhanyuan, president of China International Communications Group (CICG), delivers a speech at the awards ceremony for the Panda Cup Japan Youth Essay Contest in Beijing, June 27, 2025. [Photo/CICG]
Du Zhanyuan, president of China International Communications Group (CICG), attended the awards ceremony and delivered a speech. He said that the essays conveyed Japanese youths' genuine desire and enthusiasm to learn about China, along with a shared aspiration for enduring friendship between people of both countries.
He noted that this year marks the 80th anniversary of the victory of the World Anti-Fascist War, and urged young people from both China and Japan to remember history and become guardians of peace.
Du also encouraged the award recipients to visit more places in China, experience its culture and modernization firsthand, and share what they learn with others to help strengthen goodwill across generations.
Du Zhanyuan (6th L), president of China International Communications Group (CICG), poses for a photo with the 2022 and 2024 award winners of the Panda Cup Japan Youth Essay Contest in Beijing, June 27, 2025. [Photo/CICG]
During the ceremony, the award recipients shared their insights on youth exchange, and said that in today's world, having an international perspective is increasingly important. They said that they can gain a deeper understanding of China and build lasting friendships by participating in in-person activities and engaging in dialogue with their peers. They also expressed their appreciation for China's rich history and culture.
Members of the Japanese youth delegation wear Hanfu, the traditional attire of China, and experience intangible cultural heritage activities in Beijing, June 26, 2025. [Photo/CICG]
Jointly organized by the Chinese Embassy in Japan, CICG Asia-Pacific, and the Japan Science Society, the Panda Cup invites Japanese youth aged between 16 and 35 to submit essays on the theme "China and I." Over the past 11 years, the contest has received more than 6,000 submissions and brought about 170 award-winning Japanese youths to China. This year's delegation had nearly 50 participants, which set a new record.
The delegation arrived in Beijing on Wednesday, and later visited historical sites and tried their hands at cultural activities such as lacquer fan-making, indigo dyeing, and block printing.
After the Beijing events, the delegation will travel to Wenzhou and Chengdu to visit scenic spots, companies, universities, and cultural institutions, and explore local culture and conduct exchange with Chinese youths.