George Njoroge, Principal of the College of Education at University of Rwanda, delivers remarks in the Rwanda national final of the 18th "Chinese Bridge" Chinese Proficiency Competition for Foreign College Students, in Kigali, capital city of Rwanda, on May 18, 2019. A Chinese proficiency competition for Rwandan college students was held here on Saturday with a national final. (Xinhua/Gabriel Dusabe)

KIGALI, May 18 (Xinhua) -- A Chinese proficiency competition for Rwandan college students was held here on Saturday with a national final.

Nine students emerged from over 1,000 competitors to reach the final. After three rounds of competition, a fourth-year student from the University of Rwanda's College of Education, Divine Masezerano, came out first and will represent Rwandan students to compete with others from different countries in the finals in China.

The competition, organized by the Chinese Embassy in Rwanda and Confucius Institute at the University of Rwanda, is one of the overseas preliminary rounds of the 18th "Chinese Bridge," an annual Chinese proficiency competition for foreign college students.

Fourth-year student Felix Ndikubwimana from the same college got the second place and an opportunity to visit China and watch the finals.

"This win would encourage other students to learn the Chinese language and culture and to know that they can achieve anything they set their minds on," the winner told reporters.

"We are encouraging Rwandan students to learn the Chinese language and culture in order to strengthen communication between the two countries, most especially people-to-people exchange," said Wang Jiaxin, Economic and Commercial Counsellor of the Chinese Embassy in Rwanda, on the sidelines of the event.

"These students are excellent in the Chinese language. They are able to articulate well and they delivered speech in a very typical Chinese way. I am so impressed," said Wang.

George Njoroge, Principal of the College of Education, said "Learning the Chinese language like any other foreign language gives these students an opportunity to open them up to the world. The language would help them to get employment with Chinese companies and do business with Chinese people."

"Learning culture and language will make students more adaptable and employable in a dynamic and competitive world. We are so proud of these students' efforts to learn the Chinese language and culture," said Njoroge.

The annual "Chinese Bridge," launched in 2002, is an important platform for international college students to learn the Chinese language and understand more about China. It also serves to help young people in the world better communicate with one another.