The 19th Latvian “Chinese Bridge” – Chinese Proficiency Competition Successfully Held

On May 14th and 15th, 2022, the 19th Latvian “Chinese Bridge” – Chinese proficiency competition with the theme of “One World, One Family” was successfully held. Due to the influence of COVID-19, the competition was undertaken online. With the support of the “Chinese Bridge” fund set up by the China Foreign Language Exchange and Cooperation Center of the Ministry of Education, the competition was sponsored by the Embassy of China in Latvia, organized by Confucius Institute at University of Latvia, co-organized by Confucius Classroom at Riga Culture Secondary School, Confucius Classroom at Daugavpils University, Confucius Classroom at Rezekne Academy of Technologies, Confucius Classroom at Riga No.34 Secondary School, Confucius Classroom at Riga Technical University, Faculty of Humanities at University of Latvia, Transport and Telecommunication Institute, Latvian Academy of Culture, Ventspils University of Applied Sciences, Vidzeme University of Applied Sciences, Kraslava State Gymnasium, Jēkabpils State Gymnasium, Riga Daugavgriva Secondary School, Riga No.64 Secondary School. Distinguished Guests —- Ms. Song Danhui, Minister-Counsellor of the Embassy of China in Latvia. Ms. Maija Burima, Vice Rector of Daugavpils University. Mr. Xia Xiaolei, Executive Vice Chairman of Latvian Federation of Oversea Chinese Compatriots. Peteris Pildegovics, Director of Latvian side of Confucius Institute at University of Latvia. Professor Shang Quanyu, Director of Chinese side of Confucius Institute at University of Latvia, Mr. Guo Qun and Ms. Li Deping, Heads of Riga Branch of Xinhua News Agency, Ms. Anastasija Galkina, secretary of Confucius Institute at University of Latvia were present at the competition. Mr. Liu Jimin, Consul of the Embassy of China in Latvia, Ms. Agita Baltgalve, Head of Chinese Programme at University of Latvia, Ms. Karina Jermaka, President of the Chinese Alumni Association in Latvia, Ms. Madara Smalka, Ms. Bai Bingyu, Ms. Tang Heng acted as judges of the competition.

At the beginning of the competition, Minister-Counsellor Song Danhui made an opening speech about the significance of the competition. She mentioned that this year marks the 20th anniversary of the ‘Chinese Bridge’ competition. Over the past 20 years, the ‘Chinese Bridge’ has provided young people from all over the world with the opportunity to showcase their Chinese Talents. ‘Chinese Bridge’ is not only a bridge of language, but also a bridge of culture, friendship, and spirit. It is a bridge to explore Chinese culture. Learning Chinese well is like getting the key to the treasures of Chinese history and culture. It is also a bridge of friendship to enhance exchanges and mutual learning. Through the mutual exchange and learning of Chinese, it can enhance the friendship between China and Latvia, and make positive contributions to promoting China-Latvia people-to-people and cultural exchanges and consolidating the friendly and cooperative relations between China and Latvia. This is also a bridge of minds to jointly promote peaceful development. Communicating languages can help us narrow the distance between our hearts. If you learn Chinese well, you will be able to have a deeper understanding of the Chinese nation’s idea of harmony and understand the origin and sincerity of China’s pursuit of peaceful development and the building of a community with a shared future for mankind. Then, Ms. Maija Brima, Vice Rector of Daugavpils University, also delivered a speech, expressing her heartfelt thanks and best wishes to the guests, participants, and staff of this competition, and paying tribute to the teachers who have been teaching Chinese language and fostering Chinese culture in Latvia for a long time.

There are 23 contestants participating in the Chinese Bridge Competition this year, including 8 participants in the adult group, 7 in teenagers’ group and 8 in children’s group. The contestants competed actively around the Theme Speech, Chinese Knowledge Q&A, Talent Show, etc. As the competition was held during the epidemic period, the scoring procedure was divided into two parts. Contestants were required to submit self-introduction video, keynote speech video and talent show video prior to online competition, and participate in online question and answer session. Finally, the jury scored the contestants’ performance based on their self-introduction, keynote speech, talent show video and online question and answer session. In the online Q&A session, the contestants actively participated and answered questions enthusiastically; In the talent show, the contestants did singing, dancing, calligraphy and painting etc, to show their talents.

Finally, Luka Ivanovs, Veronika Aleksejeva and Veronika Nasredinova won the first prizes of Primary School Students’ junior group, intermediate group, and senior group respectively. Aleksandrs Aleksejevs,Evianna Majore and Anna Ņikitina won the first prizes of Secondary School Students’ junior group, intermediate group and senior group respectively. Džekija Eilande, Aleksandra Mirojevska and Ieva Saliņa respectively won the first prizes of Adults’ junior group, intermediate group and advanced group.

On the occasion of the 20th anniversary of the “Chinese Bridge”, the Latvian contestants offered their blessings with their enthusiasm and talents. The smooth progress of the “Chinese Bridge” not only allowed the contestants to further understand China’s long history of civilization and profound cultural heritage, but also strengthened the bond between China and Latvia. As Minister Counselor Song Danhui said, hopefully the “Chinese Bridge” will take you closer to a real China, to perceive China with your hearts, to connect with the Chinese people heart-to-heart, and to join hands to reach the bright future of permienet peace and common development.

拉脱维亚第十九届“汉语桥”中文比赛成功举行

当地时间2022年5月14-15日，主题为“天下一家”的拉脱维亚第十九届“汉语桥”中文比赛成功举行。由于新冠疫情的影响，本届“汉语桥”采用了线上的方式进行比赛。在教育部中外语言交流合作中心所设“汉语桥”基金支持下，本届大赛由中国驻拉脱维亚大使馆主办,拉脱维亚大学孔子学院承办,里加文化中学孔子课堂、道加瓦皮尔斯大学孔子课堂、雷泽克内大学孔子课堂、里加34中学孔子课堂、里加工业大学孔子课堂、拉脱维亚大学人文学院、交通与电信大学、拉脱维亚文化学院、文茨皮尔斯大学、维泽梅应用技术大学、克拉斯拉瓦中学、叶卡布皮尔斯中学、里加道加瓦河口中学、里加64中学协办。中国驻拉脱维亚大使馆公使衔参赞宋丹卉公参、道加瓦皮尔斯大学副校长玛雅布里玛女士、拉脱维亚华人华侨联合会常务副会长夏晓雷先生、拉脱维亚大学孔子学院中方院长尚劝余教授和外方院长贝德高教授、新华社里加分社负责人郭群先生和李德萍女士、拉脱维亚大学孔子学院秘书高安娜女士等嘉宾出席了此次大赛开幕式。中国驻拉脱维亚大使馆领事刘继民先生、拉脱维亚大学中文专业负责人鲍葛薇教授、拉脱维亚留华同学会会长卡琳娜女士以及中文教师艾薇塔女士、马笑笑女士、白冰玉女士、汤蘅女士担任本次大赛的评委。

大赛伊始，宋丹卉公参就本次大赛的意义进行了开场发言，她提到“今年是‘汉语桥’比赛20周年。20年来，‘汉语桥’为世界各国和地区的青少年提供了展示中文风采的平台。‘汉语桥’不仅是一座语言之桥，更是一座文化之桥、友谊之桥、心灵之桥。这是一座探索中国的文化之桥。学好汉语，就像拿到了通向中国历史文化宝藏的钥匙。这也是增进交流互鉴的友谊之桥。通过汉语的相互交流学习，能够增进中拉友谊，为促进中拉人文交流、夯实中拉友好合作关系做出积极贡献。这更是共促和平发展的心灵之桥。语言相通，能够帮助我们拉近心与心的距离。学好汉语，就能够更加深感悟中华民族的和合思想，理解中国走和平发展道路、推动构建人类命运共同体的渊源和诚意”。随后，道加瓦皮尔斯大学副校长玛雅布里玛女士也进行了致辞，对本次比赛的嘉宾、参赛人员、工作人员表示了衷心的感谢和祝愿，也向长期在拉从事汉语教学、传播中华文化的老师们致以敬意，向所有关心和支持“汉语桥”的中拉各界人士表示感谢。

今年参加汉语桥比赛的选手共23人，其中，大学成人组参赛选手8名，中学生组7名，小学生组8名。选手们围绕着主题演讲、中国知识问答等环节进行了激烈角逐。由于本次比赛在疫情期间举行，故评分内容分为两大部分。参赛选手需在赛前提交自我介绍视频、主题演讲视频和才艺展示视频，并于正式比赛参与在线问答环节，最后评审团综合选手所提交的自我介绍、主题演讲、才艺展示的视频和选手线上问答环节的表现进行打分。在线上问答环节中，选手们积极参与，踊跃发言；在才艺展示中，选手们各显神通，从烹饪到手工制作、从诗词歌赋到琴棋书画，尽展风采。

最终，卢卡（Luka Ivanovs）、妮卡（Veronika Aleksejeva）、尼卡（Veronika Nasredinova）分别获得了小学初级组、中级组和高级组的一等奖。阿列克斯（Aleksandrs Aleksejevs）、艾唯（Evianna Majore）、安娜（Anna Ņikitina）分别获得了中学初级组、中级组和高级组的一等奖。Džekija Eilande、萨沙（Aleksandra Mirojevska）、伊娃（Ieva Saliņa）分别获得了大学生成人初级组、中级组和高级组的一等奖。

在“汉语桥”20周年之际，拉脱维亚的选手们以自己的热情和才能为之献上祝福。此次“汉语桥”的顺利进行，不仅让选手们进一步了解到中国悠久的文明历史和厚重的文化底蕴，同时也加强中拉两国联系的纽带。正如宋丹卉公参所说，希望通过“汉语桥”带大家走近真实的中国、以心灵感知中国、与中国人民心心相通，携手走向持久和平、共同发展的彼岸。