Zhang Zhan, Cultural Counselor of the Chinese Embassy in Greece, praised the efforts of Chinese teachers in Greece over the years for their contributions to Chinese language education. He stated that Chinese is a gateway to understanding China and a bond for cultural exchange between the two countries. By learning Chinese, Greeks have enhanced their understanding of China and built a bridge for better communication between the peoples of the two countries. He encouraged Chinese language teachers and students to continue their efforts and achieve excellent results in the upcoming Chinese Bridge competition.
Yang Xiuqin, the Chinese Director of the Athens Business Confucius Institute, introduced that the Chinese Bridge Preliminary Competition for Greece will be held on April 12 this year. Participants will be divided into three levels: beginner (HSK Level 1 and 2), intermediate (HSK Level 3 and 4), and advanced (HSK Level 5 and 6). Winners from different levels will be recommended to China to participate in the semi-finals and finals.
Director Yang stated that the enthusiasm for learning Chinese in Greece remains high, with over 800 people registering for the HSK Chinese proficiency test last year. In fact, learning Chinese is not easy for Greeks, especially since most students start from scratch, which means they may encounter greater difficulties during the learning process. However, it is touching that these foreign students have maintained their interest in the Chinese language. With this spirit, the contestants representing Greece in last year's Chinese Bridge competition historically reached the finals and ultimately gained admission to Tsinghua University. Director Yang believes that through the unremitting efforts of the Confucius Institute and colleagues in the education sector over the years, a solid foundation has been laid for cultivating Chinese language teachers and senior translators.
It is understood that the Chinese Bridge is an international Chinese competition organized by the Confucius Institute, in which students learning Chinese from around the world participate. It has become an important platform for Chinese learners in various countries to learn Chinese and understand China. The competition includes four aspects: Chinese language proficiency, knowledge of Chinese national conditions, Chinese cultural skills, and comprehensive learning ability. Contestants first participate in the preliminary round in Greece, and the winners will be invited to visit China and participate in the semi-finals and finals along with winners from other countries. Final winners not only receive corresponding scholarships for studying in China but also participate in various themed and colorful Chinese cultural activities.
In addition, Luo Tong, President of the Sino-Greek Cultural Education Research Association, announced at the meeting that the Peking University Drama Club will form a group to participate in the International Youth Arts Festival in Mycenae, Greece, performing the classic tragedy "Oedipus Rex" on April 8 in Greece, and holding a themed exchange meeting on "Ancient Greek Mythology and Ancient Greek Drama" at the Athens Business Confucius Institute on April 12.