The final round of the 25th “Chinese Bridge” Chinese Proficiency Competition for Foreign College Students (South Africa Division) was held at the Confucius Institute for Traditional Chinese Medicine, University of the Western Cape, bringing together students, diplomats, and education stakeholders from across the country.
The event attracted more than 500 participants, including Chinese Ambassador to South Africa Wu Peng, Chinese Consul General in Cape Town Ren Faqiang, and University of the Western Cape Vice-Chancellor Robert Balfour, alongside contestants, teachers, and parents from seven universities hosting Confucius Institutes across South Africa.
South Africa’s Minister of Higher Education and Training, Buti Manamela, also sent a congratulatory message to the participants, commending the initiative for strengthening educational and cultural ties between South Africa and China.
In a video address, Ambassador Wu Peng highlighted the broader significance of the competition, noting that 2026 marks the China-Africa Year of People-to-People Exchanges, the 10th anniversary of Chinese language inclusion in South Africa’s national education system, and the 25th anniversary of the “Chinese Bridge” competition.
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He described the “Chinese Bridge” as a platform that connects South African youth to the Chinese-speaking world through language, culture, and friendship, while promoting mutual understanding and long-term cooperation between both nations.
Wu emphasized that the competition serves as a cultural and educational bridge fostering people-to-people exchanges and strengthening bilateral relations between China and South Africa.
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The annual contest continues to serve as a global platform for students to demonstrate their Mandarin proficiency while promoting intercultural dialogue and educational collaboration.