The Final of The 13th “Chinese Bridge” Competition for Primary and Middle School Students in Latvia Successfully Soncluded in the Riga Technical University
On April 8th, 2016, the final of the 13th “ChineseBridge” Competition for primary and middle school students in Latvia successfully concluded in the RigaTechnicalUniversity. The competition was sponsored by the Embassy of P.R.China in the Republic of Latvia, hosted by Confucius Institute at University of Latvia, jointly organized by ConfuciusCenter at StradinsUniversity, RigaCultureSecondary School, Riga No.34 Secondary School and SmiltenesCenterSecondary School and with the support of the “ChineseBridge” foundation founded by HANBAN. Around 150 guests from various sectors of the society in Latvia watched the competition, including the chairman of Confucius Institute of Latvia University, the renowned sinologist, the Chinese teachers, the representatives from universities and schools, the Chinese amateurs, and the Chinese and Latvian media.
Mr. HUANG YONG, the ambassador from the Chinese Embassy said that this “ChineseBridge ”competition is the first competition aimed at the primary and middle school students. The competition exerts a great influence to the students who study Chinese and expressed the appreciation to the Latvia government’s support, also to the renowned sinologist, the Chinese teachers who devote themselves in Chinese teaching. He emphasized that the theme “Chinese Dream” of this competition bears the Chinese revival dream, also the his wishes to the friendly relationship between China and Latvia. At last he expressed his warm welcome and the best regards.
Peteris Pildegovics, the foreign dean of Confucius Institute at University of Latvia said that the Embassy of P.R.China in the Republic of Latvia has always been supporting the Chinese teaching in Latvia, and more and more Chinese volunteer teachers have come to Latvia, which has greatly contributed to the prosperous improvement of Chinese teaching in Latvia. And at last, Professor Peteris Pildegovics expressed his best wishes to for all the contestants.
The 42 contestants fiercely competed in four sections: self-introduction, themed public speaking, Q&A about Chinese knowledge and talent show. Their soulful public speaking about the “Chinese Dream” and the extraordinary artistic abilities and skills in the Chinese talent show were the audio-visual feast for all the judges and audience present. After the fierce competition among the contestants, Monta Ozola from Riga Culture Secondary School has won the first place in the advanced level of the middle school students category, and Anastasija Petrova from Riga No.34 Secondary School and Ēriks Kasparenoks were awarded the first place of the intermediate level and the primary level, and Marija Švaca has won the first place of the primary school. They will represent Latvia to go to China to compete and watch the “Chinese Bridge” speech competition, and all of them will have the chance to apply for the 2016/2017 Chinese Government Scholarship.
As the Chinese-teaching center around the Baltic Sea, Latvia has made continuous efforts in Chinese-teaching. With the great success of the final of the 13th “ChineseBridge” Competition for primary and middle school students in Latvia, the Chinese-teaching has been further promoted to a new stage, and the cultural communication and understanding between China and Latvia is going to be strengthened more firmly.
