The award ceremony for the 2026 "Modern China Through My Eyes" short video competition was held Wednesday night in Auckland, New Zealand, according to a report from Xinhua. The event brought together 130 students from 24 schools and universities in the Auckland consular district who had submitted 45 videos that showcase modern China from their perspectives.
In his speech, the Chinese Consul General Chen Shijie said the competition gives New Zealand students a platform to demonstrate their Chinese‑language skills and share stories about China, while also inviting New Zealanders to experience the charm of Chinese culture. He encouraged more young people in the country to learn Chinese and become ambassadors of China‑New Zealand friendship.
Professor Lawrence Zhang of the University of Auckland praised the students’ language ability, creativity and enthusiasm, noting that events such as this enhance cultural understanding and connections between the two countries. Xuelin Zhou, director of the Confucius Institute at the University of Auckland, highlighted that the videos depict China’s societal changes through everyday images, creating records that may become significant later.
The competition has now run for three consecutive years. During the ceremony, the students also performed Chinese dances and songs and delivered speeches in Chinese about China as they see it, adding a cultural showcase to the award presentations.
No other media outlet has reported on the event, so details outside the Xinhua source remain unconfirmed at this time.
