VELIKO TURNOVO, Bulgaria, May 9 (Xinhua) -- Chinese speeches, traditional cultural performances and a passion for China took center stage on Saturday as 25 Bulgarian teenagers competed in the final round of the 19th "Chinese Bridge" Chinese Proficiency Competition for Foreign Secondary School Students in Bulgaria.
Co-organized by the Chinese Embassy in Bulgaria, the Confucius Institute at the University of Veliko Turnovo and the Confucius Institute in Sofia, the competition featured tests of Chinese language and culture, Chinese-language speeches and performances related to Chinese culture.
Nikol Nikolaeva Yalamova, a student at the Private Secondary School "Evlogi and Hristo Georgievi", won first prize with 99 out of 100 points, earning the chance to represent Bulgaria in the global finals in China.
"I have already visited China four times, but I can't get enough," she told Xinhua.
Speaking at the opening ceremony, Chinese Ambassador to Bulgaria Dai Qingli said learning Chinese is not only about mastering a foreign language, but also about understanding Chinese history, culture and contemporary China, as language is a key to the doors of different civilizations.
The competition is part of the annual "Chinese Bridge" contests held in Bulgaria, with the university-level competition scheduled for Sunday.
