On the evening of September 28, the final of the 2025 "FLTRP · ETIC Cup" "Understanding Contemporary China" English Speech Contest took place on Xingqing Campus, marking the opening of the 23rd Golden Autumn Foreign Language and Culture Festival at Xi'an Jiaotong University.

Eighty-two students from over ten schools and departments initially signed up for the competition. Following preliminary rounds, 19 finalists advanced to compete in the final. This year's final featured a more challenging impromptu speech format, requiring each contestant to deliver a three-minute speech followed by a one-minute Q&A session. The topics covered a wide range, from broad themes such as "China's Path of Peaceful Development" and "Harmony Without Uniformity" to contemporary issues, including the cultural impact of pre-made dishes, the rise of social media influencers, the value of the humanities, etc.

Throughout the competition, finalists showcased strong critical thinking ability and cross-cultural communication skills. They were able to present their ideas clearly and confidently, even under tight time constraints. Four contestants—Zhan Tianyi and Xiao Bowen from the School of Electrical Engineering, Xu Jiahui from the School of Physics, and Jin Zichan from the XJTU-POLIMI Joint School—received gold awards for their fluent delivery and insightful cultural interpretations.

Since its launch in 2001, the Golden Autumn Foreign Language and Culture Festival has been held 22 times, covering over 100 language-related activities. Over the next month, a variety of activities will take place across the campus, including English debate competitions, a three-minute academic English speech contest (3MAP), bilingual creative writing contests, drama performances, and language contests in Japanese, French, Russian, German, and Spanish. The festival also features cultural fairs and a series of foreign-language lectures, offering students a broad platform for cross-cultural exchange and for showcasing their language skills.