On Wednesday, November 5, the 2026 “Modern China Through My Eyes” short‐video competition held its award ceremony in Auckland, New Zealand’s largest city, as reported by Xinhua. The contest gathered 130 students from 24 cities, schools and universities within the Auckland consular district, who submitted 45 videos depicting modern China through their own lenses. The event was notable as the third year a Hong Kong‑based competition celebrating contemporary China has taken place abroad, and New Zealand’s largest city had acted as the host.
Event Overview
Chinese Consul General in Auckland Chen Shijie delivered a speech emphasizing the event’s role in providing a platform for New Zealand students to demonstrate achievements in Chinese language learning and to share stories about China. He urged young people to further study Chinese and deepen their understanding of China, positioning them as ambassadors for China‑New Zealand friendship. The ceremony also featured performances of Chinese dances and songs, and speakers delivered short speeches in Chinese about China as they see it.
Student Participation and Reception
Professor Lawrence Zhang of the University of Auckland praised the participants for their Chinese language skills, creative flair, and enthusiasm for cultural exploration. He noted that activities such as this one increase cultural understanding and strengthen ties between New Zealand and China. Xuelin Zhou, director of the Confucius Institute at the University of Auckland, highlighted how the videos offered concrete images of everyday Chinese life, capturing societal changes and preserving moments that may become future historical records. The competition’s format encourages students to present Chinese culture in various forms, thereby building cross‑cultural dialogue.
