Two Chilean students to compete in Chinese Bridge contest

Two Chilean students on Friday won a chance to compete in the 2016 Chinese Bridge contest in Beijing.

Eduardo Ovando and Jose Alvarez won the language competitions at university and secondary school levels, respectively, to take part in the annual Chinese-language proficiency contest.

More than 30 university and secondary school students in the country competed for a chance to travel to China for the July event.

"I couldn't believe I won the Chinese Bridge contest," Ovando, who studied at the Confucius Institute at Vina del Mar, told Xinhua.

"I practiced the language intensely over the past two months," he said.

Students are evaluated in different language skills, including an oral presentation, usually on the Chinese culture or history.

The contest in Chile was organized by the Confucius Institute at the University of Santo Tomas, in conjunction with the Education Ministry for secondary school students, and by the Chinese Embassy for university students.

Rector of Santo Tomas University Rolando Kelly said events such as the Chinese Bridge "strengthen our ties with China."