Publisher: Academy of Cultural Heritage and Creativity of Jinan University 

Date: March 27, 2025

On March 22, 2025, Jinan University emerged victorious at the final round of the 3rd Malaysia-China University Chinese Debate Competition, securing the championship with a decisive 5-0 win against the Universiti Sains Malaysia. The competition brought together debaters from numerous universities across Malaysia and China, fostering collaboration through spirited debate.

(Event poster)

The team, coached by Ye Zhihai, Vice Dean of the Academy of Cultural Heritage and Creativity and Director of the College Student Art Quality Teaching Department, was led by third-year undergraduate student Zhang Yewen from the College of Chinese Language and Culture. The team comprised talented members including Gan Jian, a master’s student from the School of Journalism and Communication; Zhang Bailin, a fourth-year undergraduate from the same school; Feng Zhuo from the College of Life Science and Technology; Yang Yiting from the School of Economics and Social Research; Zhang Yang, a third-year undergraduate from School of Journalism and Communication; Liu Runjing, a second-year undergraduate from School of Law; He Ruiqing, a second-year undergraduate from School of Management.

The competition featured a unique format where Chinese and Malaysian university teams competed against each other in both group stages and finals, culminating in a ranking system based on their performance.

Over the course of the competition, Jinan University’s team showcased outstanding skills and enthusiasm, winning all three of their matches: two in the preliminary rounds and the final. Their exceptional performance ranked them first among Chinese universities, securing their place as the representatives in the championship round against Malaysia.

In the preliminary stages, Jinan University defeated the University College of Technology Sarawak with a score of 3-0, with Zhang Yang earning the title of Best Debater from the opposing team and accumulating 220 points. They followed this with another 3-0 victory against a team from the Universiti Malaya, where Feng Zhuo received the title of Best Debater in the affirmative, adding 235 points to their score. Ultimately, the representative team finished the preliminary rounds with an impressive total of 465 points, propelling them to the championship.

Competition Overview

The 3rd Malaysia-China University Chinese Debate Competition took place online from December 18, 2024, to March 22, 2025. Supported by the Chinese Embassy in Malaysia, the event was collaboratively organized by SEGi University Malaysia, Hainan Normal University, and the Confucius Institute of SEGi University. The competition featured teams from 20 prestigious universities in both countries.

(Event poster)

This milestone event coincides with the 50th anniversary of diplomatic relations between China and Malaysia, emphasizing its role in enhancing cultural understanding and serving as a platform for youth exchange. At the opening ceremony, His Excellency Zhao Changtao, Education Counsellor of the Chinese Embassy in Malaysia, highlighted the importance of debate in shaping perspectives and fostering friendship among youth.

Legacy of Jinan University's Debate Team

Jinan University’s debate team has a storied history, having excelled in various competitions since the 1980s. They participated in the first National Junior College Debate in 1998 and achieved notable success, including being the runner-up at the Taihao Cup National Junior College Debate in 2004. In recent years, they have continued to garner accolades, including the championship at the 10th International Chinese Debate Invitation Competition.

(JNU Triumphs as Champion of the 10th International Chinese Debate Invitation Competition!)

The current championship win further solidifies Jinan University’s reputation as a powerhouse in Chinese debate, reaffirming its commitment to promoting cultural exchange and the Chinese language in Malaysia.