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CLEC People Joining volunteer teachers, foreign students and scholarship recipients for lesson ideas, training programs and professional experience.

21/09/2026

Meet Andriantina Princie Fandresena, also known as Fan Yunjie, a passionate young storyteller from Madagascar. For her, the Chinese language serves as a bridge, and the camera acts as a window — helping her explore the authentic and diverse side of China, while sharing her firsthand experiences with the world.
Princie first encountered the Chinese language at the age of 13.

What once felt unfamiliar soon turned into her greatest passion. She immersed herself in Chinese culture by singing Chinese songs, practicing calligraphy, and participating in the Chinese Bridge competition. Step by step, she fell in love with Chinese culture and finally came to China for further study.

During her studies in China, Mandarin empowered her to gain knowledge and truly understand the country. Beyond learning, she picked up the camera to document everyday life. She has recorded China‘s scenery, culture, and real-life moments, editing warm and genuine footage to share with people back home.

The Chinese language is a key that helps her understand China, and the camera is a bond that connects two cultures. In her own unique way, she helps more Malagasy people learn about everyday life in China and lets Chinese audiences hear sincere voices from Madagascar.

Click the video to follow Princie's beautiful journey of encountering Chinese and discovering China!

16/09/2026

"Learn Chinese, and you will have friends all over the world." This inspiring slogan from the Confucius Institute kickstarted the extraordinary journey of Joseph Olivier Mendo’o, a young talent from Cameroon.

Fascinated by China, Mendo’o began his Chinese language studies at the Confucius Institute of the University of Yaoundé II. With unwavering dedication to his studies, he was admitted to Peking University, majoring in international relations.

Never content with textbook knowledge alone, he has traveled to more than 60 villages across China. He walked through rural fields and talked with ordinary local people, witnessing the real development and vivid changes of rural China through immersive firsthand experience.

The Chinese language opened a window for him to interact with Chinese people and allowed him to gain a more in-depth understanding of the profound heritage of Chinese civilization. Speaking Chinese brings people together, while understanding China makes cultural connections far stronger.

Today, Chinese has become an indispensable part of Mendo’o’s work and life. He devotes himself to promoting exchanges and mutual learning between Chinese and African youth, enhancing mutual understanding and exploring more possibilities for China-Africa cooperation and friendship.

Click the video to see how Mendo’o builds a vibrant communication bridge linking China and Africa!

14/09/2026

For Alaa Mamdouh Akef from Egypt, also known by his Chinese name Gao Shan, two decades’ time from the banks of the Nile to the shores of Weiming Lake has turned his journey into a living bridge between civilizations.

As one of the first students ever enrolled in the Chinese language program at Cairo University, Gao Shan opened the door to the Chinese world stroke by stroke — every character a step closer to a language that would come to define his life.

Once in China, the words from his textbooks came alive in everyday life. Chinese became the key through which he came to know the country and deepened his academic path. As a doctoral student under the "China Studies Program", he put down roots in this fertile cultural soil, and through mutual learning among civilizations, he carved out a fresh academic perspective of his own.

Today, he stands on the podium at Peking University, teaching Arabic language and culture in Chinese — while using scholarship as a bond to connect young Sinologists from across the world, sparking richer dialogue between different civilizations.

From devoted learning to dedicated teaching, from solitary exploration to building bridges, his passion and perseverance have written the most vivid footnote to the old saying: "High mountains and flowing waters meet a bosom friend."

Click the video to watch Gao Shan's cross-cultural story!

09/09/2026

For Etienne Bankuwiha from Burundi, also known by his Chinese name Ban Chao, the Chinese language has completely reshaped his life journey and anchored his lifelong pursuit: to help more African youth understand the real, vivid and authentic China.

In 2013, Ban Chao, who was originally majored in mathematics, stepped into the Confucius Institute at the University of Burundi out of pure curiosity and began his Chinese language learning journey. He was deeply attracted by the liveliness of the language and the richness of Chinese culture, and gradually fell in love with it. Through persistent efforts, he traveled across mountains and oceans to pursue further studies in China, embarking on a remarkable journey of growth.

After returning to Burundi, Ban Chao stood on the podium teaching Chinese and witnessed the powerful influence of language firsthand. His frontline teaching experience inspired him to explore how Chinese education can connect with real-life development and broader social needs. Driven by this vision, he pursued his doctoral degree at Nanjing University, focusing on Chinese language education in Africa and China studies.

His original aspiration, which constantly motivates him, is simple yet powerful: to tell China's stories in ways that African people can truly understand. He devotes himself to passing on what he has learned, observed and reflected upon to more young Africans. Through mutual understanding and sincere communication, he keeps creating new possibilities for people-to-people exchanges between China and Africa.

Click the video to watch Ban Chao’s inspiring cross-cultural story!

07/09/2026

The global finals of the 25th Chinese Proficiency Competition for Foreign College Students have come to a perfect end! Former award-winning contestants reunited on the stage, bringing their heartfelt Chinese Bridge stories to life.

Belgian contestant Sophie Matthé preserves her cherished Haibao souvenir as a tribute to her youthful Chinese Bridge memories. Belarusian contestant Ekaterina Kaligaeva documents China's stories with her camera and shares them with the world.

Vietnamese contestant Le Nguyet Quynh overcame her past stage fright, returning to the stage with newfound confidence and grace.
Through melodious songs and music, they celebrate their encounters with Chinese language and culture. Tap the video to enjoy this special musical performance and experience the cross-border youthful bond forged by Chinese Bridge!

07/09/2026

On the grand stage of the global finals of the 25th Chinese Proficiency Competition for Foreign College Students, a number of former award-winners presented a wonderful "Storytelling Show", sharing their unique Chinese Bridge journeys.

From their very first trip to China to weaving Chinese into everyday life, from exploring science in Chinese language to telling China’s stories with the language. Years have passed, and they have embarked on diverse life paths, yet their precious bond with the Chinese language has never faded.

From initial encounters to deeper understanding, from language learning to cultural sharing. Over its 25-year journey, connects far more than a language — it nurtures sincere companionship across mountains and oceans.

Click the video to listen to their touching stories!

Three Egyptians from different walks of life share their heartfelt bond with China — bridging cultures and writing since...
02/09/2026

Three Egyptians from different walks of life share their heartfelt bond with China — bridging cultures and writing sincere stories between China and the Arab world through film, literature and cross-cultural communication.

Egyptian actor Sherif Sobhy won wide affection from Chinese audiences through the recent hit Chinese film Once Upon a Time in the Middle East, in which he played the role of Zaid. Sharing his filming experience in China, he noted few differences between working in China and Egypt. What impressed him most, he said, was the Chinese crew’s rigorous attention to every detail. He expressed his sincere willingness to cooperate with Chinese filmmakers again in the future.

Ahmed Mohamed Elsaid Soliman, a renowned Egyptian sinologist and president of Egypt’s Hikmat Culture Group, views translation as far more than a profession — it is an ongoing dialogue with oneself. By translating classic Chinese works into Arabic, he opens a unique non-Western perspective for Arab readers to rethink modernization, governance and development. Years of translation practice have made him firmly believe that diverse cultures are not isolated, but interconnected chapters of humanity, where different languages and characters can reach and resonate with one another through books.

For Abbas El-Said, a professional Chinese-speaking tour guide from Egypt, the Chinese philosophy of harmony serves as the key to understanding Chinese culture. Through long-term interactions with Chinese people, he has deeply experienced the values of respect, inclusiveness and mutual understanding. While introducing Egypt to Chinese visitors in fluent Chinese, he is also building a warm and solid bridge linking the peoples of China and Egypt.

From film collaboration and literary translation to friendly tourism exchanges, each of them interprets the charm of Chinese culture in their own way, turning cultural encounters into lasting friendship and mutual enlightenment.

Meet Levi Benjamin Petersen, the global champion of the 25th Chinese Bridge Chinese Proficiency Competition for Foreign ...
31/08/2026

Meet Levi Benjamin Petersen, the global champion of the 25th Chinese Bridge Chinese Proficiency Competition for Foreign College Students!
During his two months of intense preparation for the competition, Levi turned his daily commute on the train into a mobile Chinese classroom. He repeatedly recited ancient Chinese poems and competition speeches every day. “Simply reading characters is not enough. I must read aloud until I build muscle memory, so that I won’t make mistakes on stage,” he shared.

All his efforts paid off when he claimed the global championship title. "I was stunned the moment the result was announced," he recalled. "The photos taken on stage even show my confused and surprised expressions." For Levi, the championship is far more than an honor. Most importantly, it has given him firm confidence in his future path as a young explorer still searching for his direction in life.

From Chinese characters and tea culture to campus life and social development, China is no longer just a research subject in books for him. It has become a real, warm and vivid land. He is deeply impressed by China’s rapid digital development. From mobile payment to diverse life service platforms, the convenience of China’s digital life has exceeded his imagination, allowing him to truly witness how technology reshapes people’s daily lives.

Now, the Chinese language has become an indispensable part of Levi's future plans. He hopes to continue studying and living in China after graduation and pursue career opportunities related to the Chinese language. It is his greatest wish to devote his future career to Chinese-language and cross-cultural exchange fields.

Looking back on his learning journey, Levi thinks his biggest growth is gaining a brand-new perspective to understand and engage with the world. He once expressed himself through music, then discovered a brand-new culture through Chinese, and now he aspires to connect people across the globe with this beautiful language.

Meet Vitaly, a passionate Chinese language teacher at Russia’s Higher School of Economics. Starting in 2010 when he was...
26/08/2026

Meet Vitaly, a passionate Chinese language teacher at Russia’s Higher School of Economics.

Starting in 2010 when he was just eight, Vitaly has devoted years to learning Chinese. This summer, he brought more than 80 university translation majors to Changchun, Jilin, for a one-month immersive study tour.

Seeking to make learning Chinese a fun experience, Vitaly uses animations and short AI dramas to help students grasp knowledge quickly.

"AI clips can sort out key learning points in seconds. With vivid and fun explanations, they help learners memorize content in a short time," he said.

Interestingly, he also uses Chinese AI short dramas to improve his own English skills.

Fluent and articulate in Chinese, Vitaly is skilled at idioms, classical prose, two-part allegorical sayings, and even popular internet slang. He generously shares his knowledge and insights with students, committed to nurturing outstanding translation talents who can serve as bridges for bilateral people-to-people exchanges and practical cooperation.

For Vitaly, there is no better way to understand China than to experience it in person.

Meet Li Yuling, a dedicated volunteer teacher for international Chinese language education. Standing behind a lectern, s...
24/08/2026

Meet Li Yuling, a dedicated volunteer teacher for international Chinese language education. Standing behind a lectern, she teaches students from diverse backgrounds — university staff, police officers, local Chinese language teachers, and Chinese major elective students of different ages and with different learning needs.

Every single class requires two to three days of preparation. Before teaching police officers, she thoroughly studies police procedures and working scenarios to design highly practical and targeted courses. When training local Chinese language teachers, she focuses on teaching methodology and professional knowledge to empower local educators.
Seeing her students speak Chinese language with confidence makes all her efforts worthwhile.

"Every Chinese sentence is a window, through which students discover a brand-new world," she says. After two years of teaching overseas, Li Yuling firmly believes that education is never just about imparting knowledge — it is a beautiful journey of communication, mutual learning, growth between teachers and students.

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