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.