I. Overview of the Essay Competition

Currently, the construction of Digital China is entering the inaugural year of its “15th Five-Year Plan.” As the core engine of new quality productive forces, it deeply integrates with the construction of the “Digital Silk Road,” serving as a crucial pillar for the high-quality joint development of the “Belt and Road” initiative. The state explicitly promotes the global expansion of digital technologies and cross-border data cooperation, aiming to build a digital cooperation ecosystem based on “extensive consultation, joint contribution, and shared benefits.” This charts the course for synergistic development in the digital field between China and Africa, and makes the practice of Digital China an important window showcasing the nation’s developmental vitality.

To implement the plans for building Digital China and the Digital Silk Road, and to deepen the understanding of China’s digital practices among international students in China and overseas students, the Center for West African Studies (CWAS) of the University of Electronic Science and Technology of China (UESTC) is organizing the Fifth Edition of the “China in My Eyes” Essay Competition. The competition invites submissions from international students in China and some overseas students. The theme is “China in My Eyes - Intelligence and Digital Integration Enrich All Things, Action Ignites a New Journey: My Perspective on the Practice of Digital China.” Submissions can explore the achievements of China’s digital construction from various angles such as artificial intelligence, industrial software, and smart cities.

This essay competition is strongly supported by the Confucius Institute at the University of Cape Coast (Ghana), and the Confucius Institute at the Université d'Abomey-Calavi (Benin). The year 2026 marks the 70th anniversary of the establishment of diplomatic relations between China and Africa and is designated as the “China-Africa Year of Cultural Exchanges.” To thoroughly implement the spirit of the China-Africa Year of Cultural Exchanges, to build a platform for cultural exchange and mutual understanding between Chinese and African youth, and to allow African youth to express their genuine perceptions of China and share vivid stories of China-Africa interaction through writing, we sincerely invite students from these two institutes to actively participate. We hope you will use your pen to sketch the image of China in your heart and use words to build a bridge for cultural exchange between China and Africa. Furthermore, this competition receives substantial support from the Center for the Americas and the Center for Western Europe and Africa of the China International Communications Group (CICG). Selected outstanding submissions will be recommended for publication in China and Africa and Beijing Review.

Your participation in the 2026 essay competition is highly anticipated!

II. Competition Rules

1.  General Requirements:

Submissions must be original, unpublished works, free from plagiarism, in compliance with confidentiality regulations, and without authorship disputes. Essays should closely align with the theme, present clear arguments, and demonstrate strong foresight, innovation, and readability.

2.  Theme, Content, and Word Count Requirements:

Theme: “China in My Eyes—Intelligence and Digital Integration Enrich All Things, Action Ignites a New Journey: My Perspective on the Practice of Digital China”

Word Count: Papers should ideally be around 3,000 words.

Submission Languages: Chinese or English.

Paper Structure (in order): Title, Author's Name, Affiliation/Institution, Address, Postal Code, Contact Information, Main Body.

3.  Target Participants:

International students currently studying in China and some overseas students.

4.  Competition Schedule:

Submission Deadline: June 30, 2026

Announcement of Results: August 20, 2026

III. Awards

Grand Prize (1 winner): Honorary certificate + prize worth RMB 5,000.

First Prize (1 winner):  Honorary certificate + prize worth RMB 3,000.

Second Prize (2 winners): Honorary certificate + prize worth RMB 2,000.

Third Prize (3 winners):  Honorary certificate + prize worth RMB 1,000.

Excellence Awards (several winners): Honorary certificate + prize worth RMB 500.

Selected outstanding submissions will be recommended for publication in partner journals.

IV. Submission Method

Submission Email: cwasuestc@163.com

Email and File Format Requirements:

Email Subject Line and Word Document File Name: “2026 China in My Eyes Essay Competition + [Your Name] + [Essay Title] + [Phone Number]”

V. Contact Information

Phone: 0086-(0)28-61831706 / 61831756

Email: cwasuestc@163.com

Mailing Address: Room 450, Main Building, University of Electronic Science and Technology of China, No. 2006, Xiyuan Avenue, West Hi-Tech Zone, Chengdu, Sichuan Province, China.

* The organizer reserves the right of final interpretation of this event.

See the attachment for details.