Spokesperson rivalry reaches climax in Beijing

Contestants in the final round of the National Mock Spokesperson Competition for College Students. [Photo provided to chinadaily.com.cn]

The final round of this year's National Mock Spokesperson Competition for College Students took place in Beijing on Sunday with contestants from 16 universities across the country playing the role of a government or a company spokesperson to manage a crisis.

The event, held by China Foreign Affairs University since 2006, is the only one in China for university students to experience how to think and act like a spokesperson.

How to respond to international concern over China's construction on the Nansha Islands? How to explain different statistical results on air quality issued by China's environment ministry and a well-known international nongovernmental organization? How a food delivery company responds to questions over unlicensed restaurants doing business on its platform?

The topics, based on real cases, require competitors' full understanding of a hot issue, a specific industry and domestic and international situation, as well as critical thinking and quick response, in order to give a two-minute news release and answer mock reporters' questions.

Contestants during the competition. [Photo provided to chinadaily.com.cn]

The competition ended with Tianjin-based Nankai University crowned winners and Xi'an-based Air Force Engineering University taking the title of "the best news team".

A spokesperson, as an authoritative voice of an institute or a government, plays an increasingly important role in domestic and international affairs in the information era.

China's spokesperson system was established in 1983. "So far news releases have become a normal activity for Chinese governments of all levels", said Xu Mei, spokesperson for the Education Ministry and one of the competition judges.

The system helps Chinese government to be more open and transparent, she said, it also helps China establish a responsible and confident image.

The judging panel. [Photo provided to chinadaily.com.cn]