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上海全球学生辩论赛吸引创纪录人数参加 - 2026年03月24日
Shanghai's global student debate draws record numbers
The 12th Shanghai International Debate Open was held at the Shanghai University of Finance and Economics over the weekend.
The largest Shanghai International Debate Open to date was held at the Shanghai University of Finance and Economics (SUFE) over the weekend. The 12th edition of the gathering brought together 384 debaters from 12 different countries, along with 60 adjudicators from 15 nations.
The students from prestigious universities at home and abroad debated pressing global issues, including economic development, global governance and environmental protection.
"As more hard skills are potentially replaced by AI, what truly supports the youth in facing the future remains critical thinking, empathy and human warmth," said Yao Lingzhen, vice-president of SUFE, adding that debate in English serves as a vital platform for honing these competencies.
Debaters demonstrated both humanitarian concern and analytical depth in tackling topics such as economic strategy formulation for developing countries and green energy transition in agriculture.
"Debate is not just an intellectual competition, but a journey to explore the world and transcend oneself," said Bea Legaspi, co-chief adjudicator of the tournament.
Legaspi praised the debate's contribution to global exchange and the attitude of participants in approaching the tournament with open minds.
Stephanie Chen and Clement Tsao, representing a hybrid team from Harvard University and the University of Pennsylvania, claimed the open category championship.
Chen, who was also named the best speaker in the final, emphasized the human edge in persuasion. "Art and creativity are the most difficult for technology to replicate because they carry unique human experiences and emotional understanding," she said, reflecting on the value of a platform that connects local experiences with global discourse.
Luigi Alcaneses, a co-chief adjudicator, observed that the most irreplaceable quality of a human debater is the sincerity and personal experience infused in their expression. "Debate is not only a contest of logic but also a presentation of humanity. It is precisely because each person is unique that every debate is filled with vitality," Alcaneses said.
"We are not just training people to express views, but to understand differences, respond to the world, and shoulder responsibilities." said Zhao Ke, dean of the school of foreign languages at SUFE.
Source: China Daily
