On May 23, 2025, the Confucius Institute at the University of Guadalajara successfully held the 18th “Chinese Bridge” Chinese Proficiency Competition for Foreign Secondary School Students (Mexican Region Final). The event received strong support from other Confucius Institutes across Mexico and other institutions including the University of Guadalajara's secondary school.
The competition was a spectacular showcase of talent, featuring not only speech and knowledge Q&A sections but also vibrant cultural performances, ranging from traditional Chinese shadow puppetry, hulusi flute music, ink wash painting, to face-changing opera. These artistic displays vividly demonstrated the unique charm of Chinese culture. Ultimately, Erik Tadeo Reymundo Rivera from the Confucius Institute at Mexico City won first place with his fluent Mandarin and impressive face-changing performance. He will represent Mexico in the global finals held in China. Two contestants recommended by the Confucius Institute at the University of Guadalajara secured second prize and an excellence award, respectively.
The event commenced with an opening speech by Dr. Wu Xiaoyan, from the Educational Affairs of the Embassy of the People's Republic of China in Mexico, on behalf of the embassy, who highlighted China's commitment to offering scholarships over the next three years to students from Community of Latin American and Caribbean States (CELAC) member countries, encouraging young learners to master Chinese and transform their knowledge into a powerful force for global contribution.
Mr. Edwin Alfredo, local director of the Confucius Institute at the University of Guadalajara, and Ms. Cheng Jingui, Chinese director, jointly emphasized the pivotal role of language learning in promoting cross-cultural communication. They expressed their commitment to collaborate in advancing the institute's mission, building a dynamic platform for Chinese language enthusiasts and to engage with more Sino-Mexican cultural dialogues.
Beyond serving as a stage for Mexico's top Chinese learners to shine, the competition also offered local audiences across Mexico a valuable opportunity to experience Chinese culture and appreciate the beauty of its written language. The event was also covered by media outlets such as Mexico Hua Wen Time and local radio station Channel 44.
Though confined to a modest stage, the contestants' love for Chinese language and culture burned brightly—like scattered sparks poised to ignite the passion of mutual learning and cultural exchange between civilizations.
