Reference News website reported on June 12 that the June 16 issue of Hong Kong's "Asia Weekly" (published in advance) carried an article titled "China's College Entrance Examination Hones Talents and Enhances Competitiveness, Leading the World Alone". The excerpts are as follows: In the scorching heat across the country, more than 13 million candidates participated in China's college entrance examination, also making the world at large realize that China's hard power and soft power have surged. The secret lies in the talent dividends brought by years of college entrance examinations. The college entrance examination is regarded as the fairest and most efficient talent screening mechanism globally. The spectacular scene of over 10 million people taking exams simultaneously is unique worldwide. Countless children from ordinary families have changed their own and the nation's fate through the college entrance examination, enhancing national competitiveness, breaking class and regional restrictions, creating a "benchmark effect" for talents, and promoting lifelong learning for all. The college entrance examination is not only an educational tool but also the cornerstone of the national strategy, cultivating the largest talent pool globally for China, providing a solid foundation for China's scientific and technological progress and the rise of its manufacturing industry, and driving global leadership in high-speed rail, aerospace, and other fields. The college entrance examination has also produced many private entrepreneurs who have made impressive innovations in organizational and product innovation. The college entrance examination has become a "benchmark effect" in Chinese society, showcasing standards of basic knowledge and professionalism, with important indicator significance, motivating everyone to continue learning, not just relying on one exam to determine life, but to undergo continuous trials throughout life, fostering respect for knowledge. Learning is not about pursuing diplomas but improving one's competitiveness, thereby enhancing national competitiveness. As of June 2025, the college entrance examination in China has concluded, with candidates and parents awaiting the announcement of scores, while this exam giant is activating a new round of talent selection and refinement. This exam is not only a crucial test in students' lives but also a core component of China's social operational mechanism. As the largest unified exam in the world, the influence and uniqueness of China's college entrance examination are unparalleled globally. Although the number of candidates this year has decreased slightly, the spectacle of tens of millions of students competing under uniform rules is rare in the history of world education. This system ensures fairness and consistency in evaluation criteria, laying a solid foundation for the educational system. Although the college entrance examination is no longer the only path to success today and does not entirely dictate life trajectories, it is still considered the fairest talent selection mechanism. The number of candidates and admission rates have created a vast population of higher education in China. The number of people with a university education in China exceeds 218 million. Professor Yue Changjun of the School of Education at Peking University believes that education has a significant impact on economic growth. The higher the gross enrollment rate in higher education in a country or region, the higher the level of per capita GDP. Professor Yue points out that China also exhibits the characteristic of higher education levels having higher returns, which aligns with China's strong demand for high academic qualifications. From 270,000 college students in 1977 to 12 million university graduates in 2025, China's continuously growing higher education population is proportional to its development. The advancement of higher education has also facilitated the rapid development of China's science and technology. Apart from progress in the livelihood sector, China leads globally in manned spaceflight, internet technology, and even infrastructure development, earning the title of "infrastructure powerhouse." Despite the relatively low proportion of higher education numbers in the total population, the sheer number of university graduates still ensures China's rapid progress. China's rise in national strength has made it the world's largest industrial country, with its economic power rising to the top two globally, leading the United States in many fields. Behind this is the talent honed by the college entrance examination. The college entrance examination is China's exclusive advantage and the secret to its global competitive edge. [Image: https://p3-sign.toutiaoimg.com/tos-cn-i-axegupay5k/8d905c482ddc43a3855410cd6199e4f8~tplv-tt-origin-web:gif.jpeg?_iz=58558&from=article.pc_detail&lk3s=953192f4&x-expires=1750324344&x-signature=mCSh3BxFJw3VypwMSLspSz%2BFfRw%3D] On June 10, relatives of examinees waited outside the No. 2 Middle School examination site in Linyi City, Shandong Province. On that day, the 2025 national college entrance examination came to an end. (Xinhua News Agency) Original source: https://www.toutiao.com/article/7514975148806652416/ Disclaimer: The article represents the author's personal views. 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