国内英语新闻:16th "Chinese Bridge" contest staged in Ukraine

KIEV, May 12 (Xinhua) -- The 16th "Chinese Bridge", the Chinese Proficiency Competition for Foreign College Students, was staged here on Friday.

The competition, which was held under the topic "Dreams enlighten the future", has attracted twelve participants from seven Ukrainian cities.

In accordance with a rotation principle, this year's "Chinese Bridge" was held in the Confucius Institute of the Kiev National Taras Shevchenko University (KNU).

Second-year student of the Kiev National Linguistic University Eduard Kushchenko won the competition and will represent Ukraine to attend the "Chinese Bridge" final to be held in China this summer.

Two second-prize winners, Daria Larionova from Kiev and Sofia Kiryushchenko from Ukraine's southern Odessa city, will also go to the final.

Sun Kewen, the Chinese director for the KNU Confucius Institute, said the Chinese proficiency of the contestants and the popularity of the "Chinese Bridge" in Ukraine are rising with each coming year.

Meanwhile, Chinese Ambassador to Ukraine Du Wei said that the rising popularity of Chinese culture and language in Ukraine is vividly demonstrated by the fact that in the recent four years Ukrainian students won prizes at the "Chinese Bridge" final in China.

The "Chinese Bridge" Competition is an annual event organized by the Confucius Institute Headquarters). It has been held for university students of Chinese language and culture around the world since 2002.