Tianjin hosted the 18th Chinese Proficiency Competition for Foreign Secondary School Students this week, attracting 119 contestants from 102 countries. The event is part of the Chinese Bridge series, organized by the Ministry of Education to promote Chinese language learning worldwide, with separate competitions for primary, secondary and university students.

Since the inaugural contest in 2002, more than 1.8 million young people from over 160 countries have participated, according to the organizer.

Sixteen-year-old Shama from the United Arab Emirates said, "There are many Chinese people in my country, and some teachers and classmates at school also speak Chinese. This inspires me to learn this language well."

Her father, who accompanied her to Tianjin, added: "I'm extremely delighted that my daughter can speak fluent Chinese. During the process of learning the language, she has overcome various difficulties and kept trying new things, which has been very beneficial for her growth."

The competition will award champions from five continents and an overall global winner. Cultural activities related to the contest will run for about two weeks.

"I hope to come to China more often in the future, make more friends, and gain an in-depth understanding of Chinese culture," said Panamanian contestant with a Chinese name, Wei Ling.

Zang Yifan contributed to this story.