“One World One Family” ——The 15th “Chinese Bridge” Chinese Competition in Latvia was Successfully Concluded

2018年4月24—25日，在中国国家汉办“汉语桥”基金支持下，拉脱维亚第十五届“汉语桥”中文比赛在拉脱维亚大学举行。本届比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，拉脱维亚大学人文学院、斯特拉京什大学中国研究中心、里加理工大学、交通与电信大学、道加瓦皮尔斯大学、雷泽克内大学、维泽梅大学、拉脱维亚生命科学与技术大学、拉脱维亚文化学院、文茨皮尔斯应用科技大学协办。中国驻拉脱维亚大使馆临时代办孙应来先生、大使馆经商处参赞沈小楷先生、孔子学院拉方院长贝德高教授、中方院长尚劝余教授、汉语教师、在校学生、汉语爱好者和媒体界人士共200多人出席并观摩了比赛。本次参与人数达到了历史新高，比赛取得圆满成功。

大使馆临时代办孙应来先生在致辞中强调了此次赛事的主题“天下一家”（大学成人组）和“学会中国话，朋友遍天下”（中小学组），指出“汉语桥”比赛在拉脱维亚越来越受欢迎，十多年来，近千名学习者参加。大家通过汉语学习，不仅领略了中国悠久灿烂的文化，也成为了中拉合作和友谊的亲历者、参与者和见证者。他对拉脱维亚政府、拉脱维亚大学在汉语及中国文化推广方面作出的贡献表示感谢，同时表达了对参赛选手的鼓励与祝福。

拉脱维亚大学副校长兼孔子学院理事长亚尼斯·伊克斯顿思提到，孔子曾说“既来之，则安之”。他的智慧启发我们，学习汉语并非易事，但只要学习者满腔热血、全心全意地去努力，就一定能收获成功。汉语桥比赛是一个可以广交天下朋友的派对，更是一场激烈的比赛，选手在比赛中可以锤炼技巧，展现自我，学习他人，必将是一场收获颇丰的旅程。

拉脱维亚大学孔子学院拉方院长贝德高教授和中方院长尚劝余教授在致辞中提到，本届汉语桥比赛最大的亮点是青少年和儿童参赛者居多，日趋低龄化。表明中国语言文化受到越来越多青少年儿童的喜爱，前途光明，前程似锦。拉大将继续为此努力，推进拉脱维亚汉语教学工作。

本届汉语桥参赛选手共68名，其中，大学成人组参赛选手17名，中学组32名，小学组19名。选手们通过自我介绍、主题演讲、中华文化知识问答、才艺展示四个环节进行激烈角逐。他们热情洋溢的演讲和精心准备的才艺展示无不让在场评委和嘉宾深深折服。最后大学成人高级组的蜜雪儿(Misela Belkina)和娜拉(Ziedkalna Nora)并列第一，安娜(Juksinska Anastasija)和白丽雪(Elizaveta Bogatova)分别荣获中级组和初级组一等奖；中学组的艾力克(Eriks Kasparenokes)、格蕾(Galeja Sabine Madara)和劳拉(Onzule Laura)分别荣获高级组、中级组和初级组一等奖；小学组的星星(Korali Anais)、小荷花(Marija Nilova)和季穆尔(Timurs Maksimovs)分别荣获高级组、中级组和初级组一等奖。部分获奖者将代表拉脱维亚前往中国参加和观摩2018年“汉语桥”世界大学生和中学生中文比赛，与世界各国优秀汉语学习者交流互动，并获得2017-2018年度中国政府奖学金的优先推荐权。

拉脱维亚作为波罗的海地区汉语教学的中心，近年来将汉语教学开展得有声有色，汉语推广事业蒸蒸日上。此次第十五届“汉语桥”中文比赛的圆满成功再次将拉脱维亚的汉语推广推向了新的高度，中拉两国间的文化交流将进一步加强。

From April 24 to 25, 2018, the 15th “Chinese Bridge” Chinese competition in Latvia was held at the University of Latvia with the support of Hanban’s “Chinese Bridge” fund. The competition was hosted by the Chinese Embassy in Latvia, organized by the Confucius Institute at the University of Latvia, Faculty of Humanities at the University of Latvia, Riga Stradins University China Studies Center, Riga Technical University, Transportation and Telecommunications Institute, Daugavpils University, Rezekne Academy of Technologies, Vidzeme University of Applied Sciences, Latvia University of Life Science and Technology, Latvian Academy of Culture, and Ventspils University of Applied Sciences. Mr. Sun Yinglai, Chargé d’affaires of the Chinese Embassy in Latvia, Counselor of the Business Office of the Embassy, Mr. Shen Xiaokai, Professor Pēteris Pildegovičs and Professor Shang Quanyu, Directors of LUCI, Chinese teachers, the representatives from press, universities and schools, and Chinese learners in Latvia, total of more than 200 people attended and watched the competition. The number of participants reached a record high and the competition was a big success.

The Embassy Chargé d’affaires, Sun Yinglai, stressed in his speech that the theme of the event was “One World One Family” (university adult group) and “Learn Chinese Double Your World” (Primary and Secondary School), stating that the “Chinese Bridge” competition is becoming more and more popular in Latvia. Nearly a thousand learners have participated in the game for more than a decade. Everyone learns through Chinese language and not only has a glimpse of China’s splendid culture, but has also become a participant and witness of China and Latvia cooperation and friendship. He thanks the government of Latvia and the University of Latvia for their contributions to the promotion of Chinese language and Chinese culture. At the same time, he expressed encouragement and blessings for the contestants.

Janis Ikstens, Vice-Chancellor of the University of Latvia and Deputy Rector of the Confucius Institute, mentioned that Confucius once said that “Wherever you go, go with all your heart”. His wisdom inspired us that learning Chinese is not an easy task, but as long as the learners are full of enthusiasm and wholehearted efforts, they will certainly succeed. The Chinese Bridge Competition is a party that can make friends from all over the world, at the same time, it is also a fierce competition. In the competition, the players can temper their skills, show off themselves, and learn from each others. It will surely be a rewarding journey.

Professor Pēteris Pildegovičs and Professor Shang Quanyu, the Latvian and Chinese Directors of the Confucius Institute at University of Latvia, mentioned in the speech that the biggest highlight of this year’s Chinese Bridge Games is that juveniles and children compete for more and more young people. It shows that the Chinese language and culture are loved by more and more young children, and their future is bright. Confucius Institute at University of Latvia will continue its efforts to promote Latvian’s Chinese teaching.

There were a total of 68 participants in the Chinese Bridge, including 17 in the adult group, 32 in the secondary school, and 19 in the elementary school. The contestants competed fiercely through four links: self-introduction, topic speeches, Chinese cultural quiz, and talent show. Their passionate speeches and well-prepared talent shows have impressed the judges and guests. Finally, Michelela Belkina and Ziedkalna Nora of the University Adult Senior Group are tied for the first, and Juksinska Anastasija and Elizaveta Bogatova respectively won first prize for the intermediate group and the junior group; Eriks Kasparenokes, Galeja Sabine Madara and Onzule Laura won the first prize in the senior group, intermediate group and junior groups of the middle school group; Korali Anais, Marija Nilova, and Timurs Maksimovs won first prizes in the Senior, Intermediate, and Junior groups of the primary school group. Some of the winners will represent Latvia on behalf of Latvia to participate in and observe the 2018 “Chinese Bridge” Universities and Middle Schools Students Chinese Competition, interact with excellent Chinese language learners from all over the world, and obtain the priority of the 2017-2018 Chinese Government Scholarship.

As the center of Chinese teaching in the Baltic region, Latvia has made remarkable progress in Chinese teaching in recent years. The promotion of Chinese language is flourishing. The successful completion of the 15th “Chinese Bridge” Chinese competition once again pushed Latvia’s Chinese language promotion to a new height, and the cultural exchanges between China and Latvia will be further strengthened.