On October 11, the final round of the 3rd “My Hebei Story” Chinese Speech Contest for international friends in Hebei was held in Shijiazhuang. Jointly organized by the Hebei Office of International Chinese Language Education, the Hebei People’s Association for Friendship with Foreign Countries, and Hebei Radio and Television Station, the competition brought together 16 international faculty members and students from 14 universities across the province. Nikolai Bazaleev, a foreign teacher at NCIAE, won the Excellence Award, and the university received the Outstanding Organization Award.

In the final round, Nikolai delivered a speech titled “Soaring Through the Sky, Capturing Hebei’s Story.” He introduced the valuable collections of NCIAE’s Aerospace Museum and the beauty of the campus, giving the audience a vivid sense of the university’s strong aerospace spirit and deep-rooted passion for the field. Drawing from his work and daily life, he shared various aspects of living and working in China. His fluent and engaging speech not only reflected his deep affection for the university and Hebei, as well as his understanding of Chinese culture, but also showcased NCIAE’s unique character as the only aerospace-focused university in Hebei to a broader audience.

Nikolai has a strong interest in Chinese culture. He has been studying Chinese in his spare time and has passed the HSK Level 4 exam. This was his first time participating in a Chinese speech contest, and he successfully advanced to the finals with an excellent performance. His participation also marked the first time an NCIAE foreign teacher has entered a Chinese language competition—a new achievement for the university.

In recent years, NCIAE has actively strengthened its international faculty team, encouraging foreign teachers to participate in cultural activities outside the university, learn Chinese, and gain a deeper understanding of Chinese culture. The university supports them in integrating into Chinese society and becoming ambassadors of cultural exchange between China and other countries.