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Chinese Ambassador to Rwanda Rao Hongwei delivers a speech during the overseas preliminary rounds of the 12th "Chinese Bridge" Chinese Proficiency Competition for Foreign Secondary School Students, in Kigali, capital of Rwanda, June 9, 2019. Rwanda's secondary school students from different parts of the country participated in the competition in Kigali on Sunday. (Xinhua/Lyu Tianran)

KIGALI, June 9 (Xinhua) -- Rwanda's secondary school students from different parts of the country participated in the Rwanda final of a Chinese language proficiency competition held in the capital city Kigali on Sunday.

The overseas preliminary rounds of the 12th "Chinese Bridge" Chinese Proficiency Competition for Foreign Secondary School Students for Rwanda were hosted by Chinese Embassy in Rwanda and organized by Confucius Institute at University of Rwanda.

Ten finalists who won out of about 1,000 competitors demonstrated their Chinese language skills through three rounds of competition including the speech, quiz of Chinese knowledge and talent show. The top two students, Sabine Kimonyo Irakoze and Kenny Gumirza, will travel to China for the global finals.

The Rwandan ministry of education appreciates the existing cooperation between China and Rwanda, specifically in the education sector, Director General of Rwanda Education Board Irenee Ndayambaje said during the event, adding that Sunday's event is a sign of the continued cooperation.

China is highly recognized in the world in terms of economy, and learning the Chinese language will provide more connections with the Chinese people, said Ndayambaje.

Partnering with China provides a very big opportunity to Rwanda's younger generation, he added.

It's the good time for the Rwandan youth to learn the Chinese language as bilateral relations between China and Rwanda have entered a new era, said Chinese Ambassador to Rwanda Rao Hongwei, noting that learning the Chinese language will increase opportunities in their future career.

In addition, China has achieved remarkable developmental progress during the past 70 years since its founding in 1949, and learning Chinese has increasingly become a trend in the world, said Rao.

He also congratulated the Rwandan Confucius Institute for its 10th anniversary, commending its great achievements in teaching Chinese and promoting Chinese Culture during the past 10 years, he said.

Heads of several Rwandan secondary schools were also present at the event.