Yesterday, May 15, the Belarusian National Technical University served as the main venue for the national stage of the World Competition "Chinese Language Bridge." This large-scale event brought together hundreds of experts in Chinese language and culture from across the country—schoolchildren of all ages, students, respected educators, and distinguished guests—turning the day into a true celebration of Belarusian-Chinese friendship.
For reference: the "Chinese Language Bridge" tour of Belarus included the 25th World Chinese Language Competition "Chinese Language Bridge" among students of higher education institutions, the 19th World Chinese Language Bridge Competition among middle and high school students of general secondary education institutions, and the 6th World Chinese Language Bridge Competition – Chinese Language Show among primary school students of general secondary education institutions of the Republic of Belarus in 2026. This year, 67 university students, 69 secondary school students, and 62 primary school students from educational institutions of the Republic of Belarus took part in the competition. After a tense competition, 36 participants advanced to the finals.
The day began at the BNTU Polytechnic Science and Technology Park, where the final round of the 6th World Competition "Chinese Language Bridge" – the Chinese Language Show for primary school students – took place. The young finalists showcased their talents and in-depth knowledge. They competed in various challenges, demonstrating their oral communication skills, listening comprehension, Chinese writing, and incredible immersion in traditional culture.
In the afternoon, Ambassador Extraordinary and Plenipotentiary of the People's Republic of China to the Republic of Belarus, Mr. Zhang Wenchuan, arrived at BNTU. BNTU Rector Sergei Kharitonchik welcomed the distinguished guest. The Chinese delegation was given a tour of BNTU's Digital Engineering Competence Center, where they were introduced to the university's advanced laboratories and modern engineering training capabilities. The meeting participants then visited an interactive exhibition at the BNTU Confucius Institute for Science and Technology. At the venue, Chinese students proudly showcased their talents in calligraphy, playing national musical instruments, and drawing, generously sharing the richness of their native culture.
The day culminated in a grand awards ceremony. The event brought together the finalists of all three prestigious competitions. Among the honored guests present at the ceremony were Anatoly Tozik, Chairman of the Belarusian-Chinese Friendship Society and Director of the Belarusian State University's Confucius Institute of Sinology; Vladimir Dolzhenkov, Deputy Minister of Education of the Republic of Belarus; heads of Confucius Institutes; and rectors and vice-rectors of the country's leading educational institutions.
Zhang Wenchuan addressed the participants and guests of the event with a welcoming speech:
Dear Vladimir Valentinovich Dolzhenkov, Deputy Minister of Education of the Republic of Belarus; Dear Sergei Vasilievich Kharitonchik, Rector! Dear teachers and students! Good afternoon! I am pleased to welcome you to the awards ceremony for the winners of the national stage of the World Chinese Language Competition "Chinese Bridge 2026" among primary and middle school students and university students. First of all, on behalf of the Embassy of the People's Republic of China in the Republic of Belarus, I would like to express my sincere gratitude to the three Confucius Institutes at the Belarusian National Technical University, the Belarusian State University of Foreign Languages, and the Belarusian State University of Physical Education, the organizers of this competition, as well as to all the staff who participated in the preparation and implementation of the event. I express my deep respect to all the jury members for their diligent work on this competition and extend my warm greetings to all the participants from across Belarus! This year marks the 25th anniversary of the "Chinese Bridge" competition series. Over the past 25 years, the "Chinese Bridge" events have attracted over 1.8 million young people from over 160 countries, becoming a cherished venue for Chinese language learners worldwide. Long since transcending the confines of a simple competition, it has become a bridge connecting hearts and civilizations. Learning Chinese not only allows one to understand China's 5,000-year-old brilliant civilization but also provides an opportunity to directly benefit from the opportunities offered by China's modernization. Every Belarusian friend studying Chinese is an ambassador for Sino-Belarusian friendship and a youthful force driving the development of relations between our countries. Let me extend my heartfelt congratulations to all the winners and runners-up! Your confidence and composure on stage, as well as your daily hard work behind the scenes, fully demonstrate the brilliance and talent of Belarus's young generation. The Embassy of the People's Republic of China in the Republic of Belarus will continue to provide comprehensive support for the development of Chinese language education in Belarus. In conclusion, I wish the three champions who will represent Belarus at the competition in China this year continued brilliant victories! I wish each of the friends present success and a bright future, and I wish the Chinese-Belarusian friendship continued development and prosperity!
In his speech, Deputy Minister of Education of the Republic of Belarus Vladimir Dolzhenkov emphasized that Belarusian-Chinese relations are currently at the highest level of strategic partnership. He noted the significant increase in young people's interest in language learning and thanked the teachers who generously share their knowledge and guide the students on their path to success.
Sergei Kharitonchik also addressed those present. In his address, he emphasized the importance of developing educational ties and congratulated the participants on successfully completing the competition:
– Your Excellency, Ambassador Extraordinary and Plenipotentiary of the People's Republic of China to the Republic of Belarus, Mr. Zhang Wenchuan. Your Excellency, esteemed Anatoly Afanasyevich Tozik. Esteemed Deputy Minister of Education of the Republic of Belarus, Vladimir Vladimirovich Dolzhenkov. Esteemed rectors, vice-rectors, directors of Confucius Institutes, guests, and contestants. I am pleased to welcome everyone to the awards ceremony of the "Chinese Language Bridge in the Republic of Belarus 2026" competition. We are proud that this year, the Embassy of the People's Republic of China in the Republic of Belarus has entrusted the Confucius Institute for Science and Technology of the Belarusian National Technical University (BNTU) with organizing the 6th World Competition "Chinese Language Bridge" – a Chinese Language Show among students of general secondary education institutions in the Republic of Belarus in 2026. The goal of the competition is to stimulate Belarusian schoolchildren's interest in learning Chinese and deepen their understanding of the Chinese language and culture, as well as to create a platform for mutual learning and exchange. I am confident that the first-place winners will represent Belarus with dignity in the finals of the 25th, 6th, and 19th World Competitions "Chinese Language Bridge" held in China. I hope that all competition participants will not rest on their laurels and will continue to reach new heights in their study of the Chinese language. Chinese is one of the most widely studied languages today, spoken by over 1.3 billion people. BNTU is proud to partner with universities and research organizations in the People's Republic of China, and we look forward to continued long-term and fruitful collaboration, both in joint projects and in training highly qualified technical specialists.
The event featured vibrant creative performances reflecting the flavor of different cultures.
The celebration concluded with a ceremonial announcement of the results. During the ceremony, special awards for outstanding achievements were presented to participants in all three age categories of the 2026 Chinese Bridge World Competition in the Republic of Belarus.
A special prize for outstanding performance among elementary school students was awarded to:
In the middle and high school student category, the following students received the award for outstanding achievements:
Among students from higher education institutions, the honorary nomination was awarded to:
Then the names of the top prize winners were announced. The winners of the VI World Competition "Chinese Language Bridge" among primary school students were:
The names of the winners of the 19th World Competition "Chinese Language Bridge" among middle and high school students were also announced:
Svoy The winners of the 25th International Student Competition "Chinese Bridge" also made a significant contribution to the overall victory:
We sincerely congratulate all the winners, runners-up, and their mentors on their well-deserved awards! We wish you endless inspiration, new discoveries, and a successful performance at the international finals in China!
