\'Chinese Bridge\' language contest held in Madagascar

The 13th "Chinese Bridge" Chinese Proficiency Competition for Foreign Secondary School Students was held here on Saturday. Harinirina Aicha Nadine Saida, a 21-year-old girl who got herself a Chinese name-- An Yixuan with the help of her Chinese teacher, won the championship after beating 14 other contestants from all over Madagascar. An will compete in China for the final contest scheduled in July. She told Xinhua she was very excited to win the competition. "I hope to win the final of this competition in China. I am confident I can do it," said An to Xinhua. "I have a Chinese dream. In the future, I dream one day I can study in China so that I have a chance to know more about Chinese culture and its people," she added. Learning Chinese is getting popular in Madagascar. "The 15 participants are chosen among 7,000 Malagasy students who study Chinese all over Madagascar," said Li Haijun, director of the Confucius Institute at Antananarivo University. "Our students are increasing every year. Last year, we had around 5,000 students. But this year we have 7,000 and we trust next year we will have more students," said Li. The "Chinese Bridge" competition was first organized in China by the Confucius Institute in 2002 to inspire foreign students to learn Chinese and enhance their understanding of the Chinese culture.