Twenty one contestants from six Confucius Institutes (Confucius Institute at University of Eötvös Loránd, Confucius Institute at University of Pécs, Confucius Institute at University of Miskolc, Hungarian-Chinese Bilingual School, Oriental Language School and Confucius Institute at University of Szeged) took part in the competition.

Mr. Zheng Wang, Cultural Counselor of the Chinese Embassy in Hungary, Mr. Hua Wu, the Head of the Education section, Ms. Xinyi Wang Commissioner from Culture section, Mrs. Katalin Nagy, Vice-president of the University of Szeged, Mr. Lin Zhang, Director of the Confucius Institute at the University of Szeged on the Chinese side and Mr. Richárd Mohr, Director of Confucius Institute at the University of Szeged on the Hungarian side, Mrs. Min Li, Director of the Confucius Institute at the University of Eötvös Loránd, Mrs. Xiaoyuan Zhu, Director of the Confucius Institute at the University of Miskolc, Mrs. Hong Mao, Director of the Confucius Institute at the University of Pécs, Mr. Sándor P. Szabó, Director of Hungarian-Chinese Bilingual School, Ms. Zsuzsanna Erdélyi, Hungarian Director of Oriental Language School, and Mr. Jiaming Guo, Chinese Director of Oriental Language School attended the competition.

Mr. Zheng Wang, Cultural Counselor of the Chinese Embassy in Hungary expressed that CHINESE BRIDGE offered a good stage for students who learn Chinese. With the implementation of China’s “One belt, one road” strategy, the relationship between China and Hungary is becoming closer and the educational and cultural exchanges between China and Hungary is increasing rapidly, which will provide such students who could learn Chinese language with more and more opportunities for further development. He also expressed his hope that every contestants will perform well as well as benefit from the competition, and thus motivate themselves to make progress in the future.

Mrs. Katalin Nagy, Vice-president of the University of Szeged, kindly welcomed all the contestants and guests from all parts of the country. She expressed her hope that the contestants will enjoy the competition. She also pointed out that CHINESE BRIDGE is a bridge which can enhance the mutual understanding and establish mutual trust between countries and their people. China’s “One belt, one road” policy just coincides with Hungary’s “Eastward Opening-up” Policy, which reflects the friendly relationship between the two countries. CHINESE BRIDGE is to ensure the cooperation in cultural terms, too.

 

Mr. Hua Wu, Head of the Education section of the Chinese Embassy in Hungary, stated that after several years’ of development, CHINESE BRIDGE has become a benchmark activity of Hanban. CHINESE BRIDGE has become a real bridge which leads excellent Chinese learners throughout the world to China. He also expressed sincere thanks to guests, judges, teachers and organizers, too.

The judges of this competition were Mrs. Xinyi Wang, Commissioner from Culture section of the Chinese Embassy in Hungary, Mr. Fubo Bao, Deputy Director of the Language Institute of the Hungarian Academy of Sciences, Mr. Chaoyang Zhai, Chief Reporter of Economic Daily, Writer Mrs. Yanping Xue and Gaodi, Winner of the 1^st CHINESE BRIDGE Chinese Proficiency Competition for foreign secondary school students.

The whole competition, which consisted of two parts, lasted for five hours. The first part of the competition was about to deliver a speech in Chinese. Then at the second part of the competition the contestants had to perform a talent show which turned out to be very successful and colorful. At the end of the competition, students from the Hungarian-Chinese Bilingual School performed an ingenious body art show, which won the audience’s applause.

Botond Alexander Ekler-Szabó, Student of Confucius Institute at the University of Szeged, won the first prize of CHINESE BRIDGE competition and Mr. Zheng Wang, Cultural Counselor of the Chinese Embassy in Hungary awarded a certificate of merit to him.

CHINESE BRIDGE competition enhances the Hungarian students’ interest in Chinese learning and promotes the understanding of Chinese language and culture. Botond Alexandre Ekler-Szabó and Máté Kullmann will represent Hungary to participate in the finals in China.