Two Chinese students who took part in the semi-final of the International Public Speaking Competition, an event that featured 46 participants from more than 40 countries, won praise from the panel of judges after their performances in London on Thursday.

Gu Yunxiang (second left) and Chen Yixian (second right) talk to other contestors during the break. [Phloto/chinadaily.com.cn]

The pair earned entry to the event after winning the 21st Century Cup National English Speaking Competition in China, an event organized by China Daily.

Chen Yixian, a 17-year-old student at Hangzhou Number 2 High School, and Gu Yunxiang, 18, a first-year student at Nanjing University, impressed both the audience and the judges with their well-crafted speeches, impactful deliveries, and confidence.

In their prepared speeches, Chen spoke about the importance of definition in clarifying messages in our daily lives. Gu spoke about society's need for diversity, and the recognition of individual talents. Their speeches each lasted five minutes and were followed by a question-and-answer session.

"The Chinese participants are as good as any students anywhere in the world," said Jane Easton, director-general of the non-profit English Speaking Union, which hosted the competition.

The students' outstanding performances came at a time when there is a growing trend among Chinese students to dedicate themselves to learning English.

Easton said she has noticed a significant improvement in the level of ability in English throughout China during her visits there in recent years, and as a result of hosting Chinese participants taking part in the competition.

The China leg of the competition, the 21st Century Cup, was launched in 1996 by China Daily. Liu Xin and Xia Peng, China's national champions in 1996 and 2005 respectively, both went on to win the international competition. This year's 21st Century Cup in China attracted around 600,000 secondary school participants and 100,000 from universities.

Anthony Harris, who has judged the competition for several years, said he has witnessed an improvement in the speech standards of Chinese competitors and has also noticed their confidence soar.

"In the past, they may have been more reserved, but now they are more confident," he said. "That is very important for engaging with the audience, to communicate their message."

Harris added that confidence also helps the Chinese students socialize with other international students, affording them the chance to learn about new cultures and build friendships.

During breaks between rounds of the competition, Chen and Gu hung out with other competitors from around the world in the garden of the English Speaking Union building in London's Mayfair, where they chatted with their peers and played games.

The confidence Harris spoke of was deeply felt by Gu, who said he put a lot of effort into his speech delivery techniques, tone, and pronunciation. "The speech is not just about the speaker, it's also about the listener. I try to involve my audience, by adding phrases such as ‘ladies and gentlemen' to draw their attention," he said.

On stage, Gu was full of confidence and charm, using vocal variation and natural body language to enhance his messages. Chen also spoke in a confident, relaxed manner, with a unique touch of humor, especially when he drew on personal stories to demonstrate his point.

During the weeklong competition, the contestants got to go on an excursion to see more of London, including a tour of the famous Shakespeare's Globe theater, and watching the musical Wicked.

Gu said the experience was "like a summer camp" while Chen said the tours transformed his impression of London.

"My teacher expects me to get to the final round, but I just want to enjoy the game," he said.

For Chen and Gu, lessons learned at the speech competition will stay with them for the long haul.

"Everyone, at some point in their life, must stand on the stage and do some public speaking, no matter what their career is," Chen said. "Public speaking helps you express opinions and thoughts to other people around you."

The competition is continuing.