Contestants wait for the start of the Chinese Proficiency Competition in Port Sudan, eastern Sudan, May 24, 2026. Sudanese university students gathered here on Sunday for the final of the 25th "Chinese Bridge" Chinese Proficiency Competition for Foreign College Students in Sudan, viewing Chinese language skills as a gateway to a broader world. (Photo by Fayez Elzaki/Xinhua)
PORT SUDAN, Sudan, May 25 (Xinhua) -- Sudanese university students gathered here on Sunday for the final of the 25th "Chinese Bridge" Chinese Proficiency Competition for Foreign College Students in Sudan, viewing Chinese language skills as a gateway to a broader world.
Jointly organized by the Mandarin Center and Chinese language departments across Sudanese universities, and sponsored by the Chinese Embassy in Sudan, the final brought together 12 Sudanese students to compete in speeches and cultural performances under the theme "One World, One Family."
Muazza Tariq Hassan, a fourth-year Chinese language student at the University of Khartoum who won the first place, said she began learning Chinese in 2019.
"The Chinese language is an opportunity for me to see the world more broadly," she said. "It brings me closer to a great culture and an ancient civilization."
Hassan said learning Chinese has strengthened her confidence and inspired her dream of pursuing a diplomatic career.
"The more I learn, the more I feel the world is becoming closer to us, and that language can be a bridge to hope, knowledge and the future," she said.
During the final, Alaa Abu Bakr presented paper cutting, one of China's oldest folk arts, which she recently learned at the Mandarin Center.
"When I learn an art form like paper cutting, I feel that I'm not just learning a language. I'm getting closer to people's lives and culture, and seeing the world in a broader and more beautiful way," she said.
The competition transcended language, serving as a platform for students from diverse backgrounds to share dreams through joint passion for Chinese culture, she said.
"Sometimes I feel the Chinese language carries me to places I haven't visited yet," she said. "It makes me imagine a broader future filled with opportunities and knowledge."
Director of the Mandarin Center Muwaffaq Atif Babikir noted that Sudanese students have demonstrated remarkable talent and genuine interest in Chinese culture.
"Despite all the challenges Sudan faces today, we are committed to continuing this competition because it represents a space for hope and ambition for young people," Babikir said.
Onour Ahmed, director of consular affairs at Sudan's Foreign Ministry, said Sudanese youth's growing interest in Chinese reflects the importance of openness to different languages and cultures.
As one of the first Arab nations to embrace Chinese language education, Sudan now operates a Confucius Institute, a Mandarin Center, and Chinese language programs at five universities, among others.
Ahmed said Sudan intends to expand such programs to more universities and eventually integrate them into school curricula, calling the language a vital bridge for fostering mutual understanding and unlocking future opportunities for youth.
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