The "I love China" Chinese speech contest among Belarusian college
students was held at Minsk State Linguistics University in capital
of the Republic of Belarus on May 31. This is the first time for
Belarus to hold a Chinese speech contest since gaining independence
ten years ago. Focusing on displaying the achievements of Chinese
teaching in the country, the contest has gained strong support from
relevant universities and attracted much public attention.
Fifteen contestants from the International Relations Department and
the Language and Literature Department of Belarus State University,
as well as the Translation Department of Minsk State Linguistics
University, contested the final after surviving preliminary rounds.
The content of the speech involved the experience of learning
Chinese, knowledge of Chinese history and culture, appraisal of
China's opening-up policy as well as the experiences and feelings
of studying in China and so on. Their emotional speeches were very
moving.
A
fifth grade student from the Minsk State Linguistics University,
Vila Palash, won the first prize. "I love China, especially the
Chinese language. I have studied in Beijing Language and
Culture University for a year. I will study in Beijing again
from this September through a scholarship granted by Chinese
government. I am looking forward to going to Beijing again," she
said with great excitement.
The Chinese Ambassador to the Republic of Belarus, Yu Zhenqi,
attended the contest and delivered a speech. He said that "the
friendly cooperative relationship between China and the Republic of
Belarus has steadily improved since we established diplomatic
relations 10 years go. The successful exchange of visits between
President Jiang Zemin and President Alexander Lukashenko indicates
that the political relationship between China and the Republic of
Belarus has moved onto a new stage. The cooperation and exchange in
various fields will be further widened and deepened and this will
no doubt provide a good opportunity for developing Chinese teaching
in Belarus.
Ambassador Yu said his embassy and the Chinese Ministry of
Education had been supporting Chinese teaching in Belarus all along
and would continue to support it in the future. He sincerely wished
that college students of Belarus would master the Chinese language
so as to better serve their country in the future and do their bit
to the friendship of two countries.
According to the President of Minsk State Linguistics University,
Ms.Baranova, this contest is an important event to the Chinese
teaching in Belarus with far-reaching influence. The contest would
further promote the development of Chinese teaching in Belarus.
Before the disintegration of former Soviet Union, there were
neither any Chinese major nor Chinese teachers in universities and
colleges of Belarus. All required Chinese language professionals
were trained in Russia. Since the formation of the Republic of
Belarus, however, Chinese teaching has been conducted in Belarus in
order to satisfy the demand for Chinese language professionals in
social and economic development. There has been great progress
after ten years of sustained efforts. At present, three departments
of two universities of Belarus have set up a Chinese major with
over 110 students. Most graduates have been active on the
diplomatic, economic, cultural and educational fronts of
Belarus.
The Chinese embassy to the Republic of Belarus, the Ministry of
Education and National Office for Teaching Chinese as a Foreign
Language attach great importance to Chinese teaching in Belarus.
China has sent experts and donated books and materials, as well as
teaching facilities to Belarus.
(china.org.cn by Wang Qian, June 21, 2002)