China's growing global influence attracts more Tunisians to learn Chinese

Asma Tlich, the winner of the 21st "Chinese Bridge" Chinese proficiency competition for Tunisian college students, performs at the Confucius Institute at the University of Carthage in Tunis, Tunisia, on June 9, 2022. (Photo by Adel Ezzine/Xinhua)

China's rise and growing global influence are luring more Tunisians to learn the Chinese language.

TUNIS, June 10 (Xinhua) -- "I'm bullish on the prospects of China and aspiring to do business there. That's one of my motivations to learn Chinese diligently," Asma Tlich, the champion of the Chinese proficiency competition held in Tunisia, told Xinhua.

Tlich and either other students competed in the Tunisian final of the 21st "Chinese Bridge" Chinese Proficiency Competition for Foreign College Students held on Thursday in the capital of Tunis.

Under the theme of "One World One Family," the competition was co-organized by the Chinese Embassy in Tunisia, the Confucius Institute at the University of Carthage, and the Higher Institute of Languages of Tunis. The final consisted of three parts: keynote speech, knowledge quiz, and talent show.

Asma Tlich, the winner of the 21st "Chinese Bridge" Chinese proficiency competition for Tunisian college students, shows her certificate at the Confucius Institute at the University of Carthage in Tunis, Tunisia, on June 9, 2022. (Photo by Adel Ezzine/Xinhua)

Some participants told Xinhua that it is China's growing prosperity and global influence that drove them to learn the Chinese language hard and take part in the contest.

"China's rise in the past decades has lured more Tunisians to learn Chinese," Khaoula Louhichi, a student who wants to relate her future career to the Chinese language, told Xinhua.

Since its entry into the World Trade Organization in 2001, China has changed swiftly from what was called the world's low-cost factory to a country with growing global influence. At the same time, China became the primary trade and development partner for emerging economies across Asia, Africa and Latin America, making learning Chinese a necessity for many.

A contestant takes part in the 21st "Chinese Bridge" Chinese proficiency competition for Tunisian college students held in Tunis, Tunisia, on June 9, 2022. (Photo by Xu Supei/Xinhua) 

Language creates communication, which promotes understanding. For Tlich, this year's champion, learning Chinese has helped her find many similarities between Tunisia and China.

"The two countries are geographically far apart and culturally different, but the people in both countries cherish family so much," Tlich said in her keynote speech.

Tlich confessed that it was not easy for her to learn Chinese at first, because "all the Chinese characters just slipped out of my mind easily."

A contestant takes part in the 21st "Chinese Bridge" Chinese proficiency competition for Tunisian college students held in Tunis, Tunisia, on June 9, 2022. (Photo by Adel Ezzine/Xinhua)

"I searched for many online resources, including some popular smartphone apps, such as Little Red Book, Kuaishou, and many others for Chinese learning that have sprung up over the years," she said.

At the award ceremony, Chinese Ambassador to Tunisia Zhang Jianguo sent his congratulations via video to the winners and encouraged all participants to keep learning Chinese.

"The cooperation between China and Tunisia in various fields has deepened and yielded fruitful results since the establishment of diplomatic ties 58 years ago," the Chinese envoy said, adding that he hoped to see more Tunisians learning Chinese and contributing to enhancing the bilateral ties.

Ding Yang (L), the Chinese director of the Confucius Institute at the University of Carthage, presents award to a contestant in the 21st "Chinese Bridge" Chinese proficiency competition for Tunisian college students held in Tunis, Tunisia, on June 9, 2022. (Photo by Adel Ezzine/Xinhua)

The Confucius Institute at the University of Carthage has trained a number of students who excel in the Chinese language, Houda Ben Hamadi, the Tunisian director of the institute and head of the Higher Institute of Languages of Tunis, said at the ceremony via video.

Ding Yang, the Chinese director of the Confucius Institute at the University of Carthage, said that as China and Tunisia are making joint efforts to support Chinese language education in the North African country, the China-Tunisia friendship will also be deepened.