The power of the Chinese spirit gathered the contestants in the regional phase of the 14th Chinese Bridge competition on Sunday. In the event hall of the Chinese Embassy here, 20 young people from main cities across Romania showed their admiration for the Chinese culture during the annual contest in Chinese Proficiency for Foreign College Students.

This year's theme, The Chinese Dream, was an opportunity for the Romanian young students to present the outcome of their efforts and their talent in the acquisition of the Chinese language and culture during four tests: a written exam, a 4-minute speech, a 3-question cultural test and an artistic performance.

The 4-minute speech proved their proficiency in Chinese and their ability to make "the bridge" between their own culture and China. The speeches betrayed the impact that the Chinese culture had upon them, since most of them suggested initiation and learning voyages through life, as well as moral values.

"I am fascinated by China, by their wisdom and way of thinking," said Adriana, a 2nd prize winner, an undergraduate in Chinese with the University of Bucharest. "I took up Chinese as a challenge for my brain because it was difficult, then I won an undergraduate scholarship and my first trip to China made me fall in love with them. People were so nice and warm and helpful!"

Marius from Sibiu, a 3rd prize winner, is a student in Information Technology who declares himself attracted by the Chinese wisdom and good manners and modesty: "I was fascinated by my Chinese teacher because of his moral qualities and when I got to know the Chinese better, I realized that the more valuable they are, the more modest they behave. "

The Special Prize went to Motoriu Andra Florentina, a student from the central city of Cluj-Napoca. She will represent Romania for the final world contest to be held in central China's Changsha city in July. Fenesan Laura Mihaela, also from Cluj-Napoca won the 1st Prize and will be invited to China to watch the game.

All contestants admit that the Chinese language is very difficult to study but satisfaction is infinite because it is the gateway to the Chinese spirit which is unique and to the Chinese culture which seems to fascinate them.

The question-and-answer test showed that contestants could answer a wide range of questions covering history, traditions, cooking or personalities ranging from ancient philosophers to Ang Lee, the Chinese film director who won the Oscar in 2013. Chinese language serves as a "bridge" between several regions of the same country, thus uniting people with similar hobbies in events organized by the Confucius Institutes or the Chinese Departments of the universities, and gives them "a new sense in life" and a chance "to escape boredom, daily problems and superficiality," contestants said.

Chinese Ambassador to Romania Xu Feihong told the students that the "Chinese Bridge" competition has become a platform for international college students to improve and display their Chinese language skills, and share experience in learning Chinese, he expressed his hope that the Romanian students will further enhance their Chinese proficiency through this competition.

Anca Petculescu from the Romanian Ministry of Education said at the opening that the event was "felt with deep emotions and it encourages more people to discover what means the Chinese culture and civilization."

She reminded that the Chinese language was introduced in 2011 in Romania as an optional subject to study in universities and, starting with the 2014-2015 academic year, it was also introduced in the Romanian secondary and high schools.

Starting in 2002 when the Chinese Bridge contest was initiated, 400,000 participants from 90 countries took part in regional stages of this contest and 1,300 have been selected so far for the final stage in China.