Ethiopian college students compete in Chinese proficiency contest

Chinese Bridge, a Chinese proficiency competition for foreign college students, was held Saturday in Ethiopian capital Addis Ababa.

Some 16 students from different universities across the East African nation, including Addis Ababa University, Mekelle University and Hawassa University, competed in the final national contest, which has qualified two students who are going to represent Ethiopia for semi-final and final competitions in China in July this year.

Sponsored by the Chinese Embassy and organized by China's Confucius Institute in Ethiopia, the final competition was held on the premises of Addis Ababa University.

It goes with three rounds of different contents, including Chinese language, knowledge about China and Chinese culture, and comprehensive learning abilities.

Speaking at the opening of the competition, Liu Tao, Deputy Head of Mission of the Chinese Embassy in Ethiopia, has reiterated that the Sino-Ethiopian relation has been growing rapidly, whereby the two countries enjoy cooperation in different arenas.

The Chinese Bridge competition is an important event which contributes to the strengthening of friendship as well as to cultural and educational exchanges between the two countries, noted Liu.

"They (the contestants) are the real contributor to the friendship between China and Ethiopia; and they are the contributor to the culture (exchange) and interaction between these two great countries," he said.

Speaking on the occasion, Jeilu Oumer, Vice President of Addis Ababa University, said the Chinese proficiency competition among university students is a platform for cultural and educational exchanges.

Learning of Chinese language by young Ethiopians is instrumental to facilitate skill, knowledge and technology transfer between the peoples of the two countries, he noted.

"For our young generation, learning Chinese language and learning about China will build the communication bridge between the two countries. Moreover, such kind of platform helps introduce China to Ethiopians," he said.

Tihtena Shigute, a third-year Chinese language student at Addis Ababa University, has finished the competition first.

She told Xinhua after the competition that she is very happy about her winning result in the contest.

"I am thankful to those who have supported me. I am very happy about it, and next I will represent Ethiopia for the competition in China," she said.

Yonatan Amare, who is a fifth year civil engineering student at Hawassa University, has finished the competition runner-up. Endit