On June 23, the 2026 "Fengqing Cup" Foreign Trade Skills Competition and Fengqing Scholarship Award Ceremony were successfully held at the Foreign Language College of Jiangxi Normal University. Mr. Lemon Zhang, a distinguished 1999 alumnus, founder and CEO of Foodchem International Corporation, attended the event with his team, alongside college leadership, faculty, and student representatives. The ceremony was hosted by Ms. Cao Ye, Deputy Party Secretary of the college.
A Visionary Leader with Heart: Four Pillars for the Next Generation
In his keynote address, Mr. Lemon Zhang fondly recalled his own student years and praised the competition's format and educational impact. He offered four inspiring expectations to the young attendees:
1）Dream with purpose – Stay true to your ideals and set long-term career goals.
2）Act with responsibility – Embrace the mission of the times and actively contribute to China's opening-up and global engagement.
3）Master your craft – Hone foreign language skills and practical business capabilities through continuous learning.
4）Build with others – Foster collaboration and grow together through mutual learning and shared experience.
Mr. Lemon Zhang emphasized that the foreign language discipline is at a pivotal stage of transformation, and that deeper university-industry collaboration will pave the way for high-quality development. His remarks reflected a leader who not only builds a global business but also nurtures the next generation with vision, integrity, and generosity.
Competition Excellence and Industry Recognition
The competition, supported by the Fengqing Scholarship, awarded RMB 40,000 in prizes to six outstanding teams, with winners also receiving internship priority passes. Teams demonstrated skills in foreign trade negotiation, cross-cultural communication, and marketing, followed by professional commentary from Mr. Wang Shaopu, HR Director of Foodchem.
Gratitude and a Shared Vision
Ms. Xie Guping, Party Secretary of the college, expressed heartfelt gratitude to Mr. Lemon Zhang and Foodchem for their continued support in nurturing future talent. She encouraged students to follow the example of outstanding alumni, build a strong academic foundation, and embrace the mission of telling China's story on the global stage.
A Model of Industry-Education Integration
This competition exemplifies the college's commitment to practice-based learning, aligning foreign language education with industry demands and laying a foundation for cultivating versatile, globally-minded professionals.
For Mr. Lemon Zhang and Foodchem, this return to campus reflected the entrepreneurial spirit that drives the company's global success: vision, resilience, responsibility, and a deep belief in giving back. Through initiatives like the Fengqing Scholarship and Skills Competition, Foodchem invests not only in ingredients, but in people – the future leaders of global trade.
