Chinese proficiency competition held in Rwanda

The 2026 Chinese Bridge Chinese Proficiency Competition for Foreign College and Secondary School Students concluded its Rwandan final in Kigali on May 24, 2026, with Nkurunziza Tharcisse and Gwiza Sabrina winning the college and secondary school categories, respectively. The event, hosted by the Chinese Embassy and the Confucius Institute at the University of Rwanda, celebrated cultural ties and encouraged students to deepen their understanding of China through language learning." "article": "The Rwandan final of the 2026 Chinese Bridge Chinese Proficiency Competition for Foreign College and Secondary School Students took place in Kigali on May 24, 2026. Organized by the Chinese Embassy in Rwanda and the Confucius Institute at the University of Rwanda, the competition attracted students from the University of Rwanda and secondary schools studying Chinese. Nkurunziza Tharcisse from the University of Rwanda’s College of Education won the college student category, while Gwiza Sabrina from Ecole Notre Dame de la Providence de Karubanda claimed the title for secondary school students. Chinese Ambassador Gao Wenqi attended the event, emphasizing how the competition strengthens cultural and educational ties between China and Rwanda. Gao noted that over 20,000 Rwandan students now study Chinese, urging winners to share authentic insights about China with their communities. Eric Niyongabo, Rwanda’s provincial education coordinator for Kigali, highlighted the role of initiatives like the Chinese Bridge in fostering global exposure for Rwandan students. This marks the 13th edition of the competition for secondary school students and the 12th for college students since 2014, reflecting long-term cooperation between Rwanda and China in education and cultural exchange.