Ambassador Hu Yeshun pointed out in his welcome remarks at the beginning of the event that, Latvia is the only country in the Baltic region where the Chinese Bridge Competitions have been held. We'd like to express our gratitude to the relevant professors and teachers dedicating themselves to the Chinese language teaching, who opened a colorful gate of getting to know China at an early stage in Latvia. The Chinese language has been taking on more important historical mission in today's economic globalization and playing an increasingly important role in deepening the cooperation and exchanges  among the East and the West, and between China and Latvia. He wished that every participant of the competition being relaxed and accepting the competition with calm confidence, and fully putting on display their talents and standards of mastering the Chinese language, learning from each other and scoring excellent achievements. He looked forward to see more and more observers attending the competition next year. He wishes that all participants at the function to make concerted efforts and do their bit for further consolidating the friendship and expanding the existing cooperation between China and Latvia.

The theme of this year's competition is: Bridge of Friendship, Resonance of Passion. The youngest participant is 11 years old and the eldest is 47. The well-known sinologists Professor Peteris Pildegovics and Professor Jelenas Staburovas, and the teachers of the participating universities and schools had been invited as members of the review committee. Ms. Anzelika Smirnova, the winner of the Second prize at the final Chinese Bridge Competition in 2007 sent her best wishes to the contestants at the function through a special video. The competition has been divided into the junior, the middle and the senior levels. The contestants displayed their talents and capabilities of learning the Chinese language and cultures through the performances of wu shu, taijiquan, solo, playing musical instruments, acrobatics, short crosstalk, calligraphy etc. in the various links of the theme speech, Q & A on China ABC, and on the spot Q & A etc. The performances draw applauses from the audience and reached one climax after another. Finally, Ms. Simona Zuja won the first prize for the senor group and she will represent Latvia and attend the final Chinese Bridge Competition in Chang Sha, China in the end of July and early August this year.

 After the competition, a celebrating reception was held in the Chancery of the Chinese Embassy. All participants got together joyously in the same hall and exchanged views on what one had learned from the competition.

The bilateral cooperation in the field of education between China and Latvia in recent years is very fruitful. With the concerted efforts by the relevant Departments of Latvia, Han Ban and the Chinese Embassy in Latvia, the teaching and learning of the Chinese language in Latvia has made great progress. The fever of learning the Chinese language has been on the increasing rise. More and more people in Latvia have held great interest on the Chinese language and culture.

The Prize list of the 8th Latvian Preliminary Round

for the upcoming Chinese Bridge Competition