The 23rd edition of the Chinese Bridge Competition (Kenya Division) for university and college students was held in Kenya’s capital Nairobi on Tuesday.
The event staged at the University of Nairobi grounds saw students from various Kenyan universities compete in various fields using the Chinese language. It featured speech, Question and answer sessions as well as a talent show.
In the end, Lawrence Kamau from the University of Nairobi won the finals and earned the right to represent the country at the main competition in China later this year.
“I am excited by this win. My Chinese language teachers have helped me and I am so grateful to them. I have been studying the Chinese language for two years now and I can say it’s a continuous effort that helped me to become eloquent and expressive in that manner,” said the 21-year-old student from the University of Nairobi’s Confucius Institute after he was declared the winner
The competition is an initiative of the Chinese Embassy in Kenya in conjunction with the Confucius Institute of the University of Nairobi.
Themed “One World One Family”, Prof. Wang Shangxue, the Director of the Confucius Institute of the University of Nairobi said the participants’ list was remarkable compared to previous years.
“This year we had 20 contestants. It’s a new record of contestants since we began. From last year we opened a special channel for contestants, the non-Confucius Institute-contestants, where students from colleges that offer Chinese courses also take part,” she said
The Deputy Head of Mission at the Chinese Embassy in Kenya Zhang Zhizhong lauded the performances of Kenyan students. He said language and culture are contributing to strong cordial relations between Nairobi and Beijing.
According to Zhang, bilateral relations between China and Kenya have been fruitful with China becoming the number one trading partner of Kenya in the last few years.
“With our joint efforts, we have built Standard Gauge Railway, the Nairobi Expressway, and many of the skyscrapers that have changed the landscape of Nairobi,” said Zhang who is also the Minister Counsellor
Vice Chancellor of the University of Nairobi Prof. Stephen Kiama noted that the Chinese language continues to receive acceptance globally thus contributing to the exchange of cultures.
“From the data we collected from the contestants, we can see that their Chinese language skills are good, and their talents are diverse. It shows Chinese language education in Kenya is developing and progressing very rapidly,” he said
He said the Chinese language not only serves as a bridge to connect students globally but has become an important platform for university and college students to also learn about China in general.
