On June 12, the South Africa finals of the 2026 “Chinese Bridge” competition for secondary and primary school students were held respectively in Durban. Acting Consul General Miao Miao and Consul Ma Jun of the Chinese Consulate General in Durban attended the events, together with representatives from South Africa’s Ministry of Basic Education, Confucius Institutes and Confucius Classrooms, as well as teachers, students and parents.

In her remarks, Acting Consul General Miao Miao said that “Chinese Bridge” serves as an important platform for promoting exchanges between Chinese and South African youth and deepening mutual learning between civilizations. President Xi Jinping once replied to a letter from teachers and students of the Confucius Institute at Durban University of Technology, encouraging South African students to learn Chinese well and gain a better understanding of China. Miao encouraged the contestants to draw inspiration from the spirit of the reply letter, use Chinese as a bridge, and become young ambassadors of China-South Africa friendship.

The contestants showcased their talents through Chinese cultural knowledge quizzes, speeches and performances. Their presentations, featuring songs, dances, poetry, calligraphy, painting and AI interaction, fully demonstrated their understanding of and passion for Chinese culture. The events not only vividly reflected the fruitful achievements of Chinese language education in South Africa, but also painted a promising future for China-South Africa friendship.