Remarks by H.E. Ambassador Zheng Zeguang at the Opening of the 20th "Chinese Bridge" Chinese Proficiency Competition UK Regional Final: Appreciate the Beauty of the Chinese Language and Draw on the Power of Communication

On the 26th June, China's ambassador to the UK Zheng Zeguang attended the online opening ceremony of the 20th "Chinese Bridge" Chinese Proficiency Competition UK Regional Final and delivered a speech entitled Appreciate the Beauty of the Chinese Language and Draw on the Power of Communication. Also speaking at the opening ceremony were Kate Ewart-Biggs OBE, Interim Chief Executive of British Council, Dr. Michael Spence, President and Provost of University College London and Fang Wenjian, Chairman of China Chamber of Commerce in the UK.

Nearly 700 people, including co-presidents of Chinese and British sides of the 30 Confucius Institutes, teachers and students of British Universities, secondary schools and primary schools, families and friends of contestants and Chinese and British business representatives watched the event online via Zoom conference or live stream on Youtube and Facebook.

The competition attracted nearly one hundred young contestants from 15 universities from all over the UK, of which 10 students from 8 universities, including the University of Cambridge, LSE, the University of Manchester, the University of Leeds, SOAS, the University of Sheffield, Heriot-Watt University and Cardiff University, made it to the UK regional final. Zuzanna Anna Suchcicka from the University of Leeds, Anneka Shah from SOAS, University of London, Jef Naomi Turk Remijsen from SOAS, University of London, Julia Makosa from the University of Manchester, Brogan Somer Mathieson from the University of Sheffield, Brodie William Lawrence from Heriot-Watt University, and Ross Goldstone from Cardiff University won the special prize and the top three prizes respectively.

Since the first "Chinese Bridge" Competition in 2002, the event has attracted over 1.5 million young students from over 160 countries. Contestants from the UK have always performed well and come out with good results at the global finals.