On June 23rd ,the 22nd "Chinese Bridge" Chinese Language Competition for Foreign College Students India Final was successfully held in Mumbai.Ten finalists from Indian universities and educational institutions, including Visva-Bharati University, Jawaharlal Nehru University, University of Gujarat, Mumbai University, Doon University, Pune Yin-Yang Chinese Training Centre, participated. Vice Minister of Education Weng Tiehui led the members of the Chinese education delegation to India for the G20 Education Ministers' Meeting to attend the award ceremony. Ms. Ma Jia, Charge d'Affaires of the Chinese Embassy in India, Mr. Kong Xianhua, Chinese Consul General in Mumbai, Mr. Zha Liyou, Chinese Consul General in Kolkata, Mr.Milind Hardas, Joint Secretary, Protocol Bureau of Maharashtra, Xing Tongqing, CEO of bank of China, India branch, Prof. Avijit Banerjee, Head of the Department of Chinese Language & Culture Visva-Bharati University, Prof. B R Deepak, Jawaharlal Nehru University, Ms Kranti Prabhu Fernandes, President India-China Friendship Association, Prof.Swee Keow Yap Rahman, Prof.Dr.Satyendra Upadhyay attended the event. Nearly 200 people from Chinese embassies and consulates in India, Chinese enterprises, Indian universities and Chinese educational institutions gathered at the competition.
In his opening speech, Consul General Kong Xianhua recalled the long-standing ties between Mumbai and China. Today we can still see traditional Chinese temples and Chinese customs here.They are the testimony of peaceful and harmonious interaction between Chinese and Indian people. Kong said that language is the carrier of culture and bridge of communication.The Chinese language is the crystallization of China’s profound and rich history and culture. Learning Chinese is a key to open the Chinese cultural treasury and the very first step to understand China.
Kong said that by learning Chinese, we can build a bridge of civilization exchanges, a bridge of win-win cooperation, a bridge of national rejuvenation together. Chinese civilization believes in “One World, One Family” while Indian civilization also upholds “Vasudhaiva Kutumbakam (The world is a family)”. It has proven that Chinese and Indian civilizations share a common soul.As the biggest developing countries in the world, China and India are powering the global economic recovery. We are also important trade partners to each other. Our bilateral trade has surged to new highs again and again. China has complete industrial system and a vast market meanwhile India enjoys rapid development with competitive goods and service, making our two countries highly complementary. China is advancing towards the Second Centenary Goal, India has also embarked the journey of Amrit Kaal. I believe as long as our two countries pursue the same dreams, align our strategies, connect our markets and strengthen people-to-people ties, the world will soon witness the joint national renewal of the two ancient civilizations of China and India, and an Asian century of prosperity and rejuvenation.
On behalf of the Maharashtra government,Mr. Hardas extended his best wishes to the participants, saying that learning languages can open the door to the world, and he expects more young Indians to open their minds and learn Chinese to promote exchanges and mutual learning between the two countries.
There were total 3 rounds——the Speech competition ,the Knowledge quiz and the Talent show.In the speech, the contestants shared their experience of learning Chinese language and Chinese culture, expounded their understanding of "One World, One Family" and building a Community with a Shared Future, and expressed their expectations of acting as ambassadors of China-India cultural exchanges. The scene was full of seats, warm and friendly atmosphere, cheers, cheers, exclamations, praises lingering in the ear.
In the applause of everyone, Vishal Anand from Gujarat University won the overall championship and will represent India in the global finals, and Saniya Karnik from Mumbai University won the first prize and will be recommended to China to observe the global Finals.
Ms. Ma jia, Chargé d'Affaires of Chinese Embassy in India said in her statement，that President Xi Jinping proposed the Global Civilization Initiative, advocating the respect for the diversity of civilizations, the strengthening of international people-topeople exchanges and cooperation, and jointly advancing the the progress of human civilizations. As two ancient civilizations next door to each other, mutual learning and friendly cooperation have always been the mainstream in the thousands of years history of exchanges between China and India. The Chinese Embassy and Consulates in India will continue to provide more platforms for Indian friends to learn Chinese, facilitate their further studies in China, and help deepen their exchanges, so that they can serve as bridges of communication and messengers of friendship between the two countries.
Ms. Weng Tiehui, Vice Minister of Education China said that since the first "Chinese Bridge" competition was conducted in India in 2003, more than thirty exceptional contestants have advanced to the "Chinese Bridge" global finals, and nearly 600 Indian youths have embarked on the "Chinese Bridge" journey through the summer (winter) camp programme, witnessing China's development and progress, prosperity and strength, openness and tolerance, peace and stability. Today, they are leaders in their respective professions and continue to contribute to the promotion of language and cultural exchange between India.Hope the youth of China and India to use Chinese as a bridge to move forward together on the path of dreaming youth and co-creating the future.and China.
In their speeches, Mr Xing Tongqing, Prof.Avijit and Ms, Kranti all congratulated the participants and winners, thanked the organizers of the event, and expressed the great importance their respective institutions attach to promoting people-to-people exchanges between China and India, hoping that the young generation will carry forward the friendship and make contributions to China-India friendship.
The final was organized by the Chinese Embassy in India, the Chinese Consulate General in Mumbai and the Chinese Consulate General in Kolkata and co-organized by the China Academy, Visva-Bharati University, University of Mumbai and Somaiya University.