BUCHAREST, May 11 -- Romanian national qualifications of the 13th "Chinese Bridge", a Chinese language contest for Foreign College Students, were held Sunday at the Chinese Embassy in Romania.

As many as 17 contestants, representing hundreds of local students studying Chinese in four Romanian universities, competed in three segments featuring free speeches about "my Chinese dream", Q&As and artistic performances.

First place went to Monica Verbint, a Chinese language student of Bucharest University. She will represent Romania for the final world contest to be held in central China's Changsha city later this year.

The "Chinese Bridge" Competition is an annual event organized by the Office of Chinese Language Council International with the Chinese Hanban affiliated to the Ministry of Education of China. It has been held for university students of Chinese language and culture around the world since 2002. The competition is made up of local heats held abroad and a world final held each year in China.