City Desk :
The Chinese Language Bridge Competition can bring the two peoples of Bangladesh and China closer together and contribute as a language bridge to boost bilateral cooperation, said Chinese Ambassador to Bangladesh Mr. Yao Wen.
He also emphasized the need to build a Chinese-speaking Bangladeshi youth group, so that they can act as China’s window to Bangladesh and Bangladesh’s window to China.
Ambassador Yao said this in his address as the chief guest at a lively event titled “The 23rd Chinese Language Bridge – Chinese Proficiency Competition for Foreign College Students, Bangladesh Qualifier Round held at the BCS Administration Academy Auditorium in Dhaka on Friday. Shanto-Mariam-Honghe Confucius Classroom organized the Chinese Language Bridge under the joint auspices of the Chinese Embassy in Bangladesh and the Center for Languages Exchange and Education of the Chinese Ministry of Education.
The Bangladesh preliminary of the event was co-organized by the Confucius Institutes at Dhaka University and North South and China Power Construction Corporation.
Shanto-Mariam University Vice Chancellor Professor Dr. Md. Shah-E-Alam, Rector of BCS Administration Academy Dr. Md. Omar Faruque, Cultural Counselor of the Chinese Embassy. Mr. Li Shaopeng, Power China representative Mr. Han Kun, Dhaka Bureau Chiefs of China Media Group and Xinhua News, Bangladeshi and Chinese faculty representatives from Dhaka University, North South University and Shanto-Mariam University of Creative Technology were present among others.
In the welcome speech, Professor Shah-E-Alam said that the future of Bangladesh-China relations will be accelerated by the youths of both the countries practicing their own languages. The development of the bilateral relations requires increasing number of Bangladeshi youths being good at Chinese and understanding of China. He expressed the hope that the “Chinese Bridge” can continue to be a bridge of friendship, communication, and cooperation between the two peoples.
The Rector (Secretary) of BCS Administration Academy said in his special guest speech that Padma Bridge, Karnaphuli Tunnel, Payra Power Plant etc. milestone mega projects have been done in Bangladesh with the direct cooperation of China. Chinese language education is very important to enhance cooperation and exchanges in multifaceted sectors including education, technology and training between the two countries and Chinese language training courses have recently been launched at the academy as well.
BushraMebasswera Mahmud won the title in fierce competition throughout the day. Shan Jaareen was second and AminatunTayyiba third. The champion of the Bangladesh phase will later travel to China for the international trophy and the second prize winner will be there as a spectator. Apart from this, the next four will be sent to a free summer camp in China.
The ambassador also promised to give special privileges to the other three contestants.
“Chinese Bridge” is a major international Chinese language testing competition for the overseas Chinese language students, organized by the Center for Languages Exchange and Education of the Chinese Ministry of Education. The competition has two stages: preliminary competitions in different countries and finals in China.