The Guizhou regional semi-final is expected to kick off at Shiguangli library of CREC International Eco-city on Dec 21. [Photo provided to chinadaily.com.cn]

The 18th China Daily "21st Century Cup" National English Speaking Competition and the CREC international eco-city Guizhou regional final will kick off in Guiyang, capital city of Southwest China's Guizhou province, on Dec 21.

Aimed at promoting students' English-speaking skills and instilling the spirit of innovation, the "21st Century Cup" National English Speaking Competition was founded in 1996, organized by China Daily.

The competition is the only English-speaking contest approved by the Ministry of Education in 2019.

The Guizhou regional final is sponsored by CREC International Eco-city and free to all constants. Outstanding students will be chosen to participate in the national final, which will be held in March 2020.

According to the Department of Translation and Interpretation of the Ministry of Foreign Affairs, the competition is a "talent base" for the department.

Officials from the department will observe all the contestants' performances, selecting excellent contestants as potential diplomatic talents to cultivate and train.