Language talent competition demonstrates Egyptians' interest in Chinese
2025-09-15 15:38:03
The fifth annual Bayt Al-Hekma Chinese language and talent competition concluded here Sunday night, with its wide participation and outstanding performances showcasing the growing interest in the Chinese language and culture among the Egyptians.
The event attracted as many as 400 applicants ranging from university students to young preparatory school pupils, with 30 finalists representing 17 universities across Egypt vying for the top prize on Sunday.
Organized by the Cairo-based Bayt Al-Hekma Cultural Group, the competition featured diverse performances that blended strong Chinese language skills with a deep understanding of Chinese culture, such as singing, comedic skits, dance routines, and Chinese martial arts.
Former Egyptian Prime Minister Essam Sharaf expressed his admiration for the contestants' performances, highlighting a noticeable increase in the number of Chinese language students in Egypt over the last five years.
"I was particularly impressed by the young participants, some of whom had only been studying the language for a few months but already showed remarkable proficiency," he told Xinhua.
Sharaf emphasized that exchanges between Egyptian and Chinese civilizations have been made possible by overcoming language barriers.
Ahmed al-Saeed, chairman of the Bayt Al-Hekma Cultural Group, said that the competition demonstrated that Chinese language learning extends beyond classrooms.
Learning can also happen through performances and cultural exchanges, he told Xinhua, noting that this year's shows stood out for their unique mixture of Egyptian and Chinese civilizations and for conveying "ethical and humanitarian messages."
He said that the large number of Egyptian students learning Chinese solidifies Egypt's position as a leading country in Chinese language education in the region.
Abdullah Nasser, a second-year Chinese-language learner from Ain Shams University, won first place prize along with his two teammates.
After more than two months of hard work, he described the practice sessions as "difficult, exhausting but also enjoyable," expressing satisfaction that their efforts had paid off.
Mohamed Hany from Ain Shams University praised the performances, saying they "captured the hearts and eyes of the audience," and showcased the contestants' mastery of the Chinese language.
"Learning Chinese is very important...it is the language of the future," he told Xinhua.
The increasing interest in the Chinese language and culture in Egypt is sustained by a growing number of educational programs across the country.
A total of 34 Chinese language departments have been established in the faculties of arts and languages nationwide. Furthermore, Chinese is now offered as an optional second language in 41 government schools, making it more accessible to younger students and further solidifying Egypt's commitment to cultural exchanges with China.
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