The grand final of the fifth “Chinese Bridge” Chinese Proficiency Competition for Foreign Students in China, co-sponsored by China Central Television (CCTV) and Hanban/Confucius Institute Headquarters, was held in Beijing on the evening of Aug. 31, 2012. Liu Yandong, Member of the Politburo of CPC Central Committee and Member of the State Council, attended the grand final and conferred the “Chinese Language Star” Trophy on the Gold Award winner.

Officially launched on May 7, the fifth “Chinese Bridge” Chinese Proficiency Competition for Foreign Students in China has received an enthusiastic response from foreign students in universities across the country. Nearly 10,000 international students, representing 104 countries, from over 150 colleges in 25 provinces and municipalities (including Hong Kong, Macao and Taiwan) participated in the preliminaries. Through ten semi-finals from Aug. 16 to 24, three players stood out among 100 shortlisted candidates. In the fabulous grand final, a Tajik girl named Takhmina Inoyatova from Fujian Normal University was singled out amid fierce competitions and won the Gold Award as well as the title of “Chinese Language Star”. The competition has also borne witness to two silver award winners, five bronze prize laureates, 32 recipients of outstanding award and 60 of shortlist award.

Co-sponsored by CCTV and Hanban/Confucius Institute Headquarters, the annual “Chinese Bridge” Chinese Proficiency Competition for Foreign Students in China has been held for five consecutive years since 2008. So far, it has attracted the participation of over 30,000 foreign students in China from more than 100 countries. It has provided a platform for international students to demonstrate their Chinese language skills and share their experience in Chinese language studies, and built a bridge of friendship and learning for all those who love Chinese language and culture. “Chinese Bridge” has become an important stage where the youth from various countries can showcase their charisma and flairs, an attractive brand for Sino-foreign cultural exchanges, and a bona fide “Language Olympiad”.

CCTV-4 recorded and broadcast the preliminaries and semi-finals and aired live the grand final around the world. Tens of millions of viewers at home and abroad watched the competitions via TV or the Internet.

Officials from the State Council, the Ministry of Education, the State Administration of Radio, Film, and Television (SARFT), CCTV and Hanban/Confucius Institute Headquarters also attended the final.