LUANG NAMTHA, Laos, May 24 (Xinhua) -- Laos on Friday held the final round of its 12th "Chinese Bridge" contest for non-Chinese secondary school students, an annual Chinese proficiency competition, in Lieawkong Chinese School in northern Laos' Luang Namtha.
The contest, held at the northern town some 360 km north of Lao capital Vientiane, drew the participation of 16 Lao secondary school students from eight schools offering Chinese language classes, including Lieawkong, Liaotu Chinese School, Vientiane Secondary School and China-Laos Friendship School, etc.
The middle-school contestants attended the competition themed "Learning Chinese, Creating brighter future," in speech, real time Q&A and talent show sections, showing their Chinese language skill and understanding of the Chinese culture.
After intense competition, a student named Seunsengchieo Sengbanthay from Liaotu Chinese School in Vientiane won the championship.
When addressing the contest, Gong Lianfa, the chairman of the Lieawkong Chinese School, said the "Chinese Bridge" contest is an evidence of friendship between Lao and Chinese governments and peoples, which helps bring up more talents devoted to the cultural exchanges between the two countries.
Li Zhigong, the Chinese consul general in Laos' Luang Prabang, said bilateral relationship between China and Laos is getting closer, promoting more Chinese people to learn Lao Language and more people here to learn Chinese language.
According to Li, learning Chinese language will be helpful to the students' future development, and matches the needs of Laos' development.
