DAR ES SALAAM, Nov. 15 (Xinhua) -- Chinese Ambassador to Tanzania Chen Mingjian on Friday honored 133 Tanzanian teachers and students for their outstanding achievements in Chinese language teaching and learning, highlighting the rising interest in Chinese language studies across the country.

The awardees were selected from the Confucius Institutes at the University of Dar es Salaam and the University of Dodoma, the Confucius Classrooms at the State University of Zanzibar, and the Muslim University of Morogoro, as well as Chinese language programs in 21 secondary schools nationwide.

Speaking at the ceremony held at the Chinese embassy in Dar es Salaam, Chen praised the recipients for their dedication and creativity over the past academic year. She highlighted the growing proficiency of learners, noting that 1,703 Tanzanians took the HSK Chinese proficiency exam in the past 10 months.

She also emphasized that tens of thousands of African graduates of Chinese language programs have become important contributors to local education and key bridges for China-Africa and China-Tanzania cultural exchanges.

Representing the Ministry of Education, Science, and Technology, Nelson Boniface, deputy vice-chancellor of the University of Dar es Salaam, said learning Chinese improves access to economic and business opportunities while strengthening cultural understanding. He encouraged young Tanzanians to seize opportunities emerging from deepening China-Tanzania cooperation.

Among the awardees was Asha Fum Khamis, a Chinese language teacher at the Confucius Institute at the University of Dar es Salaam. She said her studies in China profoundly shaped her perspective and motivated her to teach the language upon returning home.

Khamis added that over the past four years, many of her students have received scholarships to study in China or secured jobs using their language skills, reflecting a growing demand for Chinese-speaking talent in Tanzania. Enditem