Over 350 students from 135 schools participated in the 2026 Thai-Chinese Youth Chinese Speech Competition, which concluded on Friday, September 4, in Thailand. Taipei Economic and Cultural Office in Thailand Deputy Representative Tung Szu-chi (董思齊) spoke at the award ceremony, encouraging students to continue learning Mandarin and build a new generation of bridges between Taiwan and Thailand.

With contestants ranging from elementary school to university, Tung said the large turnout demonstrates that Mandarin is no longer just a language learned in the classroom, but has become a means for young people to express their thoughts. He detailed how public speaking is more difficult than simply learning a language because students need to speak correctly and fluently, while considering how to express their observations, thoughts, and stories. Therefore, he said regardless of whether they win or not, being able to stand on stage in front of the judges and audience and express their thoughts completely in Mandarin is itself an important learning experience.

Tung also thanked the Chinese Association in Thailand team for hosting, the Hai Hua Cultural and Educational Foundation, the judges, and the instructors for their dedication to the event, and commended teachers and parents for their long-term support of students learning Mandarin.