The second Belt & Road Forum for International Cooperation opens in Beijing next week. In the lead-up to that, a special competition was held to celebrate the diversified cultures associated with the massive initiative. The winners were selected on Sunday night.

Contestants from 70 Belt & Road countries took part in the event, titled "Silk Road & Young Dreams". The competitors were students, officials, entrepreneurs and artists from different backgrounds. In addition to music, speech and photography, which were categories in last year's event, the three new activities of sand painting creation, essay exchange and e-sports were added this year. Contestant Santiago Inuca and his team from Ecuador took the top prize in the music category.

JIU XING PRODUCER, "VOICE OF THE SILK ROAD" "The event is not just about competing, but also showcasing diversified cultures and the sparks that occur when different cultures collide with each other. Especially the very diversified cultures we have featured along the Belt & Road countries."

Contestants in all the categories passed on a message of friendship and cooperation among Belt & Road countries. SHENLI, CGTN.