Young orators from the Asia-Pacific region took the stage on Saturday to build cross-cultural dialogue amid growing geopolitical complexities as the curtain came down on the 7th Belt and Road Youth English Speaking Competition Southeast Asian Region held at the prestigious Chulalongkorn University in Bangkok.

Each of the two categories saw the birth of the champion, first and second runners-up from a field of 36 contestants to become the voice of the Asia-Pacific region.

The event, which also served as the MicUp! Regional Finals Thailand 2025, was launched to foster a vibrant cross-cultural dialogue and youth exchange. It drew more than 800 applicants from seven countries -- Thailand, Myanmar, Laos, the Philippines, Nepal, Bangladesh and India.

With a passionate speech on overcoming bias in the digital age to build a connected world, Thanh Theerapasiri of Thailand finished first in the youth category. He said he was particularly grateful for the cross-cultural experience on stage and excited to join the winners’ cultural tour of China.

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Nan Suriya Khattiya – the champion in the junior category and a Thailand-born woman of Burmese descent -- said the award was unexpected. The public-speaking journey and the cross-cultural experience were her biggest takeaways from the competition, she said.

Keerati Areesinpitak -- a 10-year-old primary five pupil at Siam Singapore International School -- was the event’s youngest participant. Thrilled by the experience, she said taking the stage to share her thoughts had made her more confident and brave. Her mother, Kitirat Thanomboonchai, was proud to watch her performance, noting that the experience itself was what mattered most, not the results. She said they would return to compete again next year.

“This competition is more than just about speaking English. It’s about communication, connection and collaboration. In the spirit of the Belt and Road Initiative, we’re building bridges -- not just infrastructure, but of understanding, friendship and shared progress. English, as a global language, serves as one of the most powerful tools to bring us together, across borders and cultures,” said Tan Yan, deputy general manager of China Daily Asia-Pacific and director of VDO English.

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Winners will have the chance to bring Southeast Asia’s voice to the grand final in China in October this year or join a cultural tour of China.

Addressing the theme “bias”, RVi Group Chief Executive Argus Ang offered a poignant analogy. “It’s like “Wi-Fi in a hotel… it’s everywhere, but not always working the way you expect.” To combat this, he urged the younger generation to embrace unity in diversity, drawing on the Chinese saying: “The sea is vast because it admits hundreds of rivers.”

Robert Chua Hian Kong, former Singaporean ambassador to Myanmar and a guest at the competition, praised the event as a commendable cross-cultural initiative. He said it would foster many benefits, including honing the younger generation’s public speaking skills, promoting cross-cultural understanding and friendship, and even laying the foundation for stronger relationships among countries.

“In today’s interconnected era, it’s inspiring to see students engaging deeply with global issues, turning awareness into thoughtful perspectives and a sense of shared responsibility,” said Luo Ying, a representative of the 21st Century Media and Education and one of the judges for the contest.

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Since its inception in 2019, the China Daily Belt and Road Youth English Speaking Competition has become a premier global event for young orators, offering a dynamic stage for teenagers worldwide to connect, learn and grow. Embracing a spirit of multicultural youth, the competition has engaged over 10,000 contestants from 51 countries and regions.

Launched in partnership between VDO English -- China Daily Hong Kong’s educational unit -- and RVIPS -- the publishing and event arm of Thailand-based RVi Group – the annual competition celebrates top linguistic talent from across the region. Its mission is to amplify youth perspectives and champion their integration into global conversations.