WINDHOEK, April 8 (Xinhua) -- Young Namibian students showcased their Chinese language skills through poetry, speeches, and performances at a competition held in Windhoek on Tuesday, underscoring the growing appeal of Chinese language learning and cultural exchange in the country.
The event combined the 25th "Chinese Bridge" Chinese Proficiency Competition for Foreign College Students and the 19th edition for Foreign Secondary School Students, drawing participants from across Namibia, including several schools taking part for the first time.
Hosted by the Chinese Embassy in Namibia and organized by the Confucius Institute at the University of Namibia (UNAM), the competition formed part of the university's celebrations marking United Nations Chinese Language Day.
It was also held alongside the China-Namibia Talent and Art Exhibition under the framework of the China-Africa Year of People-to-People Exchanges, with support from China Railway Seventh Group.
Beyond the contest, the event unfolded as a vibrant cultural showcase. Students performed a mix of Chinese and Namibian traditions, including a Chinese dragon dance, Oshiwambo and Damara dances, and nunchaku routines. UNAM students staged a shadow puppet performance titled "Dragon in the Shadow," adding a traditional artistic dimension to the program.
Interactive cultural activities further enriched the experience, with visitors engaging in Chinese calligraphy, tea ceremonies, traditional medicine demonstrations, paper-cutting, and Chinese cuisine tasting.
Speaking at the event, UNAM Vice Chancellor Kenneth Matengu described the competition as more than a language contest, calling it a bridge connecting the people of Namibia and China.
"By doing this, we are connecting better. We do Chinese language for business purposes, Chinese language for academic purposes, but also just connecting people," he said.
Matengu added that the university is in advanced discussions with Namibia's Ministry of Education to make Chinese an officially examinable subject, a move that would further institutionalize Chinese language learning in the country.
Shen Jian, charge d'affaires ad interim of the Chinese Embassy in Namibia, said the annual competition has become a symbol of the steady growth of Chinese language education in Namibia.
Since the establishment of the Confucius Institute at UNAM in 2013, about 9,000 Namibian students have taken Chinese courses, with 12 teachers currently serving across 13 teaching sites nationwide, he said.
A single purchase
