On May 24 (local time), the Turkish Regional Finals of the 24th "Chinese Bridge" Chinese Proficiency Competition for Foreign College Students and the 18th "Chinese Bridge" Chinese Proficiency Competition for Foreign Secondary School Students were successfully held at the Chinese Embassy in Turkey. The event was hosted by the Chinese Embassy in Turkey and organized by the Confucius Institute at Middle East Technical University (METU CI). A total of 14 students from 7 universities and 10 students from 5 secondary schools in Turkey participated in the finals.

The event was graced by the presence of esteemed dignitaries, including H.E. Jiang Xuebin, the Chinese Ambassador to Turkey; Minister Counselor Cong Song; Counselor Zhou Meifen; Counselor Sun Wei from the Chinese Embassy in Turkey; and Prof. Feride Pınar Acar, Vice President of METU. Department heads of Chinese language programs from various universities, principals of participating secondary schools, Chinese and Turkish directors of Confucius Institutes, and other guests from different sectors were also present.

In his opening remarks, Minister Counselor Cong Song emphasized that the "Chinese Bridge" competition has been successfully held in Turkey for many years, serving as a key platform for cultivating local Chinese language talent and providing young students with an invaluable stage to showcase their language skills and artistic talents. He praised the efforts of the METU CI in organizing this year's competition.

Prof. Feride Pınar Acar, Vice President of METU, highlighted the important role of language exchange in promoting intercultural understanding and cooperation. She expressed her sincere gratitude for the METU CI's significant contributions to the success of this year's event.

This year's competition featured the themes "One World, One Family" and "Dreaming in Chinese, Living Youth to the Fullest." The finals were divided into two segments: a Chinese speech and knowledge quiz, followed by a talent performance showcasing various aspects of Chinese culture. After two intense rounds of competition, Ayperi Öztürk from Ankara University won first place in the university category, while Ahmet Emir Taşdemir from Martyr Muhammed Guder Anatolian Imam Hatip High School won the top prize in the secondary school category. Both champions will represent Turkey in the global finals in China.

Ambassador Jiang Xuebin presented the awards to the winners and encouraged all Chinese language learners to actively participate in cultural exchanges between China and Turkey, becoming bridges of friendship between the two nations.

As the organizing institution, the METU Confucius Institute played a vital role in the overall coordination of the competition. From the early planning stages, the Institute developed a detailed event plan, coordinated closely with multiple organizations, arranged the program schedule with great care, and ensured smooth on-site operations. Thanks to its professionalism and efficiency, the Institute received high praise from all participants and guests.

Two students recommended by the METU CI—Merve Didem Arslan and Eren Berk Karabulut—performed excellently in the competition and were both awarded third place in the university category. Their instructors were also recognized with "Outstanding Instructor" certificates.

The "Chinese Bridge" competition was not only a contest of language skills but also a vibrant dialogue of cross-cultural exchange. Through their Chinese speeches and performances, the contestants built bridges of understanding and friendship between young people from China and Turkey, injecting youthful energy into mutual learning among civilizations and people-to-people connectivity.