Armenpress: The final event of the Armenian stage of the 25th “Chinese Bridge”

The “Chinese Bridge” global competition, which this year is being held under the slogan “One World, One Family,” aims to promote intercultural dialogue, strengthen Armenia-China educational and cultural ties, and support Armenian students in learning and advancing their Chinese-language skills.

Opening the event, Chinese Ambassador to Armenia Li Xinwei said the number of countries participating in the competition has expanded significantly over the past 25 years.

“Learning foreign languages is the most convenient way to overcome geographical and cultural boundaries, communicate with people from different countries and build friendships. That is why we compare language to a bridge, and Chinese is a bridge not only to China, but also to the world,” the ambassador said, expressing hope that the participants would contribute to the development of Armenia-China relations as well as to the promotion of Armenian culture worldwide.

Armenian Deputy Education Minister Artur Danielyan described the event as important from the perspective of developing educational, cultural, scientific and youth cooperation between Armenia and China.

“I am pleased to note that in recent years we have seen steady growth in this direction, reflected in the highly effective work of the Confucius Institute in Armenia, the Armenian-Chinese Friendship School, and the scholarship programme provided to our country by our Chinese partners,” Danielyan said, adding that Armenian Culture Days are planned to be held in China this year.

The deputy minister stressed that the Armenian government attaches importance to the teaching of foreign languages among school students, including deepening their knowledge of Chinese.

The competition, which includes tests of Chinese-language proficiency as well as creative and cultural performances, brought together university and school students from across Armenia.

In the Armenian stage of the competition, the top prize was awarded to Hayastan Hmayakyan, a student at Brusov State University, while in the school and primary school age groups the winners were Sabina Vardanyan and Mariam Luse Rubinyan, students of the university’s Confucius Institute.

The Armenian stage of the “Chinese Bridge” global competition is organized on the initiative of the Chinese Embassy in Armenia and coordinated by the Confucius Institute of Valery Brusov State University.