国内英语新闻:Afghan Chinese language learners compete in proficiency contest

KABUL, May 29 (Xinhua) -- The Chinese Bridge, the worldwide contest of Chinese proficiency for foreign college student, was held in Afghan capital of Kabul Sunday, the frist of its kind in the country.

Eight students from the Confucius Institute at Kabul University took part in the contest and the best two will present Afghanistan for the final competitions in China this year.

Addressing the contest, Zhang Zhixin, Charge d'Affairs A.I. of the Chinese embassy to Afghanistan, said the Chinese Bridge Contest aims at boosting the Chinese language and culture among Afghan learners and, in extent, further promoting the cooperation and people-to-people exchanges between the two neighboring nations.

He stressed that China will further enhance the support of Chinese language education in Afghanistan.

Habibullah Habib, chancellor of the Kabul University, said the Chinese language education bridges the communication and cultural exchanges among Afghanistan and China. With the fast-paced economic development in China, more and more Afghan youths have shown their interest in learning Chinese.

He hoped the Afghan students will enhance their command of the Chinese language and also take lessons from the Chinese experience of socio-economic development to benefit Afghanistan.

Jan Ali Yousufi and Negina Sana won the top two after three rounds of competition, namely Chinese Proficiency, knowledge about China and Chinese culture, Chinese culture-related talent show.

Sana told Xinhua that she felt excited to win the competition and wants to serve the communication and exchanges between the two peoples in the future by further enhancing her Chinese proficiency.

Zhao Jingwu, Chinese director of the Confucius Institute, saw a bright future of Chinese education in war-plagued Afghanistan. He believes that there will be more and more Afghan Chinese learners in the future as the Belt and Road Initiative has entered into the implementation stage.