The “Chinese Bridge” contest is an international competition organized by the Chinese National Office for Teaching Chinese as a Foreign Language, known as Hanban. This contest brings together students from more than 130 countries and is held in three categories: elementary, secondary, and university.
Participants are evaluated in three main areas:
- proficiency in Chinese,
- knowledge of Chinese culture,
- artistic talent showcase.
In addition, the final stages are broadcast live on several Chinese television channels, giving the event significant international exposure.
Sebastián Huertas, a student in the Bachelor’s program in International Studiesand a member of the East Asia Research Group, took first place in this year’s university competition, thereby securing the opportunity to travel to China to represent Uruguay in the final round of the contest, which will be held in Fujian Province.
This isn't the first time Huertas has stood out in this competition: in 2018, he had already won first place in the high school category, demonstrating his dedication and passion for the Chinese language and culture.