A contestant delivers a speech on the theme "One World, One Family" during the preliminary round of the 24th "Chinese Bridge" Chinese Proficiency Competition for Foreign College Students held in Vladivostok, Russia, on April 10, 2025. [Photo/Xinhua]

The preliminary round of the 24th "Chinese Bridge" Chinese Proficiency Competition for Foreign College Students was held in Vladivostok, Russia, on Thursday.

Covering various dimensions including Chinese history, geography, literature and arts, the competition featured three main sections: themed speeches, a quiz and impromptu speeches, and talent performances.

After delivering speeches on the theme "One World, One Family," participants responded to questions related to China in the quiz and impromptu speech section.

During the talent segment, some contestants sang Chinese songs with emotions, some dubbed scenes from the cartoon movie Ne Zha 2, while others performed recitations of classical Chinese poetry, all earning rounds of applause from the audience.

Vanessa Stermer, a third-year biology student at Far Eastern Federal University, won first place. "I often read Chinese scientific literature and documents, and I also follow Chinese history," she told reporters.

In his opening remarks, Wang Jun, acting consul general of the Chinese Consulate General in Vladivostok, expressed his hope that participants would use language as a vessel and cultural exchange as a bridge to fully experience the charm of Chinese culture through the competition, and to gain knowledge, friendship and personal growth in their journey of discovering the beauty of the Chinese language.

Vladivostok Deputy Mayor Daria Stegniy said that China's successful economic and social development is widely recognized, and it is no surprise that young people are enthusiastic about learning Chinese and understanding Chinese culture.

"Chinese is one of the most difficult languages in the world. I want to thank the Confucius Institute for making Chinese more accessible and giving our children the opportunity to learn it in a fun and practical way," she said.

The event was co-hosted by the Chinese Consulate General in Vladivostok and the Confucius Institute at Far Eastern Federal University.