Initiated by the China Daily Group in 1996, the "21st Century Cup" National English Speaking Competition is China's largest and most prestigious English speaking competition. It has successfully held 28 sessions and is the only selection competition in China for the International Public Speaking Competition (IPSC) organized by the English-Speaking Union. The competition attracts millions of students from over 200 regions across the country who actively participate, making it a significant event for countless families.

Since its launch in 2017, the regional competition invites over 1,000 local kindergartens, primary schools, secondary schools, and universities to participate annually. To date, more than 15,000 students from over 400 schools have participated in the competition.

The champion of the Hong Kong region represents Hong Kong in the national grand finals each year, competing and exchanging ideas with elite English speakers from all over the country. In 2019 and 2020, Hong Kong contestants have achieved national championships in the senior and junior secondary school categories, demonstrating the outstanding abilities of Hong Kong students. The latest milestone was cast by the 2023 regional champion in the University Category, who was titled the first runner-up in the national grand final.