SOFIA, May 10 (Xinhua) -- Eleven Bulgarian teenagers on Saturday took part in the national qualification contest of the 18th "Chinese Bridge" contest, a Chinese language proficiency competition for foreign secondary school students.

The young contestants demonstrated their language skills and talents related to Chinese culture, earning rounds of applause from the audience at the Multifunctional Hall of the Confucius Institute in Sofia.

Veronika Georgieva, a student from Vasil Levski Secondary School in the city of Ruse, emerged as the winner of this year and earned the chance to represent Bulgaria at the final stage of the competition in China.

This is the third consecutive year that 16-year-old Georgieva has participated in the contest. In 2024, she took second place, she told Xinhua. "For me, this award is an encouragement for the efforts I have made in previous years and my hard studying," she said, adding that she was eager to experience life in China first hand.

The event is part of a set of "Chinese Bridge" contests held annually in Bulgaria. The university-level contest is scheduled for Sunday, while primary school students will compete on May 17.

Speaking at the opening ceremony, Wang Min, charge d'affaires of the Chinese Embassy in Bulgaria, emphasized that the event is not just a language competition, but also a bridge that connects hearts and cultures. More and more young Bulgarians are getting closer to the language and Chinese culture through this competition, she said, adding that the contest is building bonds of friendship between the peoples of China and Bulgaria.

Co-organized by the Confucius Institute in Sofia and the Confucius Institute at the University of Veliko Turnovo, the event is hosted by China's Center for Language Education and Cooperation and the Chinese Embassy in Bulgaria. ■