On World Post Day, October 9, the award ceremony for the 55th Universal Postal Union (UPU) International Letter-Writing Competition for Young People was held at the UPU headquarters in Switzerland. Si Zhiyuan, a 12-year-old Chinese girl, won the only gold medal for her entry entitled “The Sweetest Honey”, which stood out from 1.48 million letters submitted by 65 countries across the world.

Organized by the UPU in partnership with UNESCO, the International Letter-Writing Competition for Young People is open to young writers aged 9 to 15. It is one of the world’s most influential youth writing contests. Since its first participation in the competition in 1981, China has won six gold medals and five silver medals. This year, the theme of the competition was “write a letter to a friend about why human connection matters in a digital world”.

Si Zhiyuan comes from Wuxi, Jiangsu province. She is now a first-year junior high school student. The UPU jury praised her letter for its heartfelt and poetic language, distinctive voice and creative style, saying it offered a compelling interpretation of the theme that resonated with readers across countries. Several judges noted that Si’s letter conveyed a longing for sincerity and hope, reviving a rare and precious form of communication.