Do you aspire to showcase your creative talents?
Do you wish to share your trip to China or wonderful stories between China and Europe?
Do you have any thoughts and reflections on the development of China-Europe relations, and what expectations and wishes do you have for the future of China-Europe relations?
The Mission of the People’s Republic of China to the European Union is pleased to announce the launch of the “Chinese and European Youth: Moving Forward Together” Cartoon and Short Video Creative Contest. We warmly invite young people from China and Europe to use their cameras and paintbrushes to tell stories, share ideas, and convey best wishes of you and your family through lens or paintbrushes, to demonstrate the passion and creativity of youngsters, so as to play the symphony of China-Europe friendship.
Participants will have the chance to win an unforgettable trip to China!
1. Contest Overview
To enhance mutual understanding between Chinese and European people, and tell the stories of China-Europe relations, the cartoon and short video creative contest titled “Chinese and European Youth：Moving Forward Together,” under the host of the Chinese Mission to the EU and the artistic support from the Royal Society for Encouragement of the Fine Arts (KoMASK), has officially launched today. The contest is now open to submissions of cartoons and short videos from people across Europe and from all walks of life. Selected outstanding works will be featured at major events organized by the Mission and will have the opportunity to be promoted through professional art institutions and platforms, mainstream media outlets, and new media channels.
2. Participants
Amateur Group: All young people in EU member states
Professional Group: Students of art schools or art majors in EU member states, young artists, etc.
Age Requirement: Participants must be between 15 and 35 years of age
3. Submission Requirements
Participants are invited to create cartoons or short videos inspired by themes such as “Experiencing Chinese Style,” “Visa-Free Travel to China,” and “Youth Talking about China and Europe.” Entries may showcase Chinese culture, daily life, and contemporary development, or share personal experiences and reflections from traveling, studying, or living in China. All submissions should reflect positive values, align with the theme of the contest, and demonstrate originality and creativity. Entries must comply with applicable laws and regulations and must not contain any inappropriate, illegal, or controversial content, including pornography, violence, or criminal activities.
(1) Cartoon: There are no restrictions on drawing techniques, artistic styles, materials, or forms of expression. Both single-panel and multi-panel works are accepted. For hand-drawn works, participants should submit high-resolution photographs or color scans of their artwork (JPG format). Each image file must be no smaller than 5 MB. Digital works may be created using commonly available drawing tools and devices, including tablets, computers, graphic tablets, drawing displays, and similar equipment. All cartoon entries must be submitted in JPG format.
(2) Short Video: There are no restrictions on the style or genre of the work. Entries may include, but are not limited to, vlogs, short films, micro-documentaries, music videos (MVs), and other creative video formats. Participants may use any recording equipment, including video cameras, digital cameras, smartphones, and other devices. Submissions may consist of a single video or a series of related videos. The duration of each video must not exceed 5 minutes. Videos should be submitted in MOV or MP4 format with a minimum resolution of 1280×720 pixels. If the video contains narration, dialogue, or voice-over content, subtitles must be provided.
(3) All submitted works must be original creations of the participant(s). Entries must not have been submitted to any other competitions, exhibitions, or similar activities, and must not have been used for commercial purposes. Submissions must not contain any watermarks, logos, trademarks, website names, URLs, or other promotional identifiers. Advertisements of any kind are strictly prohibited. Works generated artificial intelligence (AI), including AI-assisted creation, are not eligible for submission.
4. How to Participate
Please send your work to the sole designated email address for the contest: youthchinaeu@gmail.com. The email subject should be noted as Chinese and European Youth: Moving Forward Together_Name of the Author_Title of the Work.
Each submission must be accompanied by a description in Chinese, English, or French, including:
Group (Amateur Group or Professional Group);
Author’s name;
Title of the work;
Date and place of creation;
A brief description of the work (no more than 200 words);
Personal Instagram or TikTok account(s).
Participants are also encouraged to post their work(s) on Instagram or TikTok, add the hashtags #YouthChinaEU and follow the official account of the Chinese Mission to the EU @missionchinaeu.
5. Award Setting
Both the amateur and professional groups have two categories: cartoon and short video.
Four First Prizes will be awarded. Each First Prize winner will receive a trip to China organized by the Mission of the People’s Republic of China to the European Union. Should a winner be unable to participate in the trip, he or she will instead receive a round-trip air ticket between Belgium and China.
Eight Second Prizes will be awarded, with each winner receiving a high-end smartphone from a leading Chinese brand;
Twelve Third Prizes will be awarded, with each winner receiving a high-end smartwatch from a leading Chinese brand;
One Most Popular Online Entry Award will be presented, with the winner receiving a laptop computer.
All participants will be awarded a certificate of merit stamped by the Chinese Mission to the EU. They will also be given priority invitations to visits to China and exchange activities organized by the Chinese Mission to the EU in the future.
6. Timeline
(1) Submission Period
From the date of announcement until 1 August 2026.
(2) Evaluation and Judging
In early September 2026, the organizing committee, together with professionals and experts from relevant fields, will conduct the final evaluation of shortlisted entries. Award recipients will be selected based on both the artistic quality of the works and their engagement and impact on Instagram and TikTok, including audience response and interaction.
(3) Announcement of Results and Award Ceremony
The winners will be announced in September 2026. An award ceremony will be held at an appropriate time thereafter, with details to be announced separately.
7. Detailed Terms
All participants are deemed to be fully aware of, recognize, and agree to comply with the following terms:
(1) The Participant must guarantee that he/she is the sole author of the submitted work(s) and has independent, complete, clear, and undisputed copyright and the right to submit the works for the contest. In cases of co-creation, the entire authorization from other right holder(s) should also be submitted. Participants should also make sure that the presented work(s) are created in a legal and compliant manner and do not infringe upon the legitimate rights and interests of any third party, including copyright, portrait right, the right to reputation, the right to privacy, etc.
(2) The host and related parties of this event have the right to cite, publicize, display, and publish the presented works in relevant events, as well as other forms of presentation, publicity and release, in non-commercial and non-profitable ways.
(3)The right to final interpretation of the contest belongs to the Chinese Mission to the European Union.
Please scan the QR codes of the official accounts of the Chinese Mission to the EU to follow the latest development and progress of the contest.
