Focus on Latvian immigration, focus on Latvian education: The 10th Latvian “Chinese Bridge” Chinese Proficiency Competition was held on the 23rd in the main auditorium of the University of Latvia, with a total of 35 contestants participating.
The theme of this year's “Chinese Bridge” competition was “My Chinese Dream.” It was jointly organized by the Embassy of the People's Republic of China in Latvia and the Confucius Institute at the University of Latvia, with co-organization from the Faculty of Humanities at the University of Latvia, the Confucius Center at Riga Stradiņš University, Vidzeme University of Applied Sciences, and the Riga Culture Secondary School. Chinese Ambassador to Latvia Yang Guoqiang, Latvian Ministry of Education official Aija Jakovica, and Vice-Rector of the University of Latvia Andris Kangro attended the competition.-
In his opening remarks, Yang Guoqiang stated that over the past decade, hundreds of Latvian students have improved their Chinese communication skills and experienced Chinese culture through the “Chinese Bridge” platform. Many of them have gone on to China from here, achieving their life dreams and adding new vitality and momentum to China-Latvia relations.
Vice-Rector of the University of Latvia Andris Kangro noted that the Chinese language is attracting an increasing number of learners worldwide, and the “Chinese Bridge” brings these learners together into a big family. The Latvian “Chinese Bridge” competition has made a positive contribution to cultural exchange between Latvia and China, and he hopes that more and more Latvian students will participate in the “Chinese Bridge” competition.
This year's competition was divided into two categories: primary/secondary school and university/adult, with each category further split into three levels: beginner, intermediate, and advanced. The competition content included Chinese speeches, talent shows, and a Chinese culture quiz. The youngest contestant, 5-year-old Eva, won unanimous praise from the judges for her performance of "Twinkle Twinkle Little Star," winning the first prize in the primary/secondary school beginner level. Maria, a graduate student in the Department of Oriental Studies at the University of Latvia, stood out by reciting the Tang poem "Memories of Jiangnan" and performing the dance "Dream of Jiangnan," winning the first prize in the university/adult advanced level.
It is reported that currently, in addition to the Confucius Institute at the University of Latvia, there are 3 universities and 3 secondary schools in Latvia that teach Chinese. Soon, at least 3 more universities and 1 secondary school will open Chinese language classes, which will better promote the understanding and perception of Chinese language and culture among all sectors of Latvian society.
