Prize winners of the 19th "Chinese Bridge" for southern Vietnam pose for a group photo in Ho Chi Minh City, Vietnam, May 30, 2020. (Chinese Consulate General in Ho Chi Minh City/Handout via Xinhua)

"After graduation, I would like to work in fields related to Vietnam-China friendship and improve cultural exchanges between the two countries," said the first prize winner of the 19th "Chinese Bridge" contest.

HO CHI MINH CITY, May 31 (Xinhua) -- The final round of the 19th "Chinese Bridge," an annual Chinese language proficiency competition, for southern Vietnam was held in Vietnam's southern Ho Chi Minh City on Saturday.

A total of 26 students from 12 colleges in southern Vietnam participated in three sections of quiz, speech and talent show in the nearly 10-hour-long competition, themed "One World, One Family," winning applause and cheering from the audience with their fluent Chinese and outstanding talent.

Vo Nguyen Quynh Nhu, a student at Ho Chi Minh City University of Social Sciences and Humanities, won the first prize of the contest and will represent the country together with the winner of northern and central Vietnam in the "Chinese Bridge" competition in China.

Nhu said she started to learn Chinese by coincidence and had been fascinated by the beauty of Chinese language and culture ever since. "I will work harder to learn Chinese and understand the Chinese culture more deeply and comprehensively. After graduation, I would like to work in fields related to Vietnam-China friendship and improve cultural exchanges between the two countries," she said.

Pham Tan Ha, vice president of Ho Chi Minh City University of Social Sciences and Humanities, said in a speech at the competition that the "Chinese Bridge" competition is expected to help students deepen their understanding of Chinese language and culture, adding that the contest was organized despite challenges posed by the COVID-19 pandemic and had attracted many students who have passion for Chinese study.

Chinese Consul General in Ho Chi Minh City Wu Jun told Xinhua that this year marks the 70th anniversary of the China-Vietnam diplomatic ties and is of great significance, and that the increasing exchanges and cooperation between China and Vietnam have brought the two peoples closer.

The young generation of China and Vietnam should improve the cultural exchanges and mutual understanding and jointly promote the shared future of humanity for the two countries, he said.

The contest was co-sponsored by the Confucius Institute Headquarters (Hanban) and the Chinese Consulate General in Ho Chi Minh City and organized by Ho Chi Minh City University of Social Sciences and Humanities.■