The Roots Millennium Education in collaboration with China Radio International (CRI) and Embassy of People’s Republic of China organised Chinese Proficiency Competition for Secondary School Students (Chinese Bridge)at TMUC Auditorium, according to a press release issued by the organisation. The Chinese proficiency competition is a large-scale international competition sponsored by Hanban Confucius Institute, China. It is the most famous international Chinese proficiency competition for non-native speakers. The event was organised to provide a stage for the secondary school students to show their Chinese language capacity and enhance understanding of Chinese language and culture. Students from different schools participated in the event. The 12th Chinese bridge competition had three parts: speech, knowledge quiz and talent show. Deputy Chief of Mission and Minister Counsellor from Embassy Pang Chunxue attended the ceremony as chief guest, accompanied by Chinese Cultural Counsellor Zhang Heqing. Deputy Director China Cultural Centre Li Yan Xuan, Chief Representative China Shipbuilding and Offshore International Co Ltd Pakistan Sun Yang, Deputy Chief Executive Office Huawai Technologies Pakistan Ma Liming, Correspondent Economic Daily Zhu Dan and Chief Correspondent Phoenix TV Zhang Tingfeng were the jury members of the bridge competition. China Radio International Confucius Classroom Director Chen Xiang along with Confucius Institute Director Zhang Daojian attended the event and expressed their appreciation for the Chinese language command of the students. The competition started with a welcome speech by The Millennium Education Chief Executive Chaudhary Faisal Mushtaq who said that cultural exchange programs has not only strengthened the relationship between Pakistan and China but has also enabled the youth to inherit, sustain and transmit the legacy of Pakistan-China friendship. He said that CRI-Millennium Confucius Classroom is a step forward towards China-Pakistan Education Corridor in the larger prospect of CPEC. He said that people-to-people exchanges are the salient feature of Pak-China bilateral ties and CRI Millennium Classroom has immensely contributed towards it through different cultural activities and competitions. Speaking to Millennials, Deputy Chief of Mission at the Embassy of People’s Republic of China Pang Chunxue appreciated the efforts put in by the students and faculty for the competition and said that language plays a pivotal role in knowing a nation and its culture. She emphasized that China and Pakistan are very good friends and neighbours. She said that CRI-Millennium Confucius Classroom has made an exceptional attempt and the initiative will produce tangible results in future. Out of nine participants from different schools, Abeeha Shoaib from Flagship Millennium Campus I-9/3 clinched the first position in the bridge competition. Dewa Wajid from Millennium Campus and Sukhen Fatima from Millennium Schools One World Campus clinched the second position. Wania Naveed, Vaneeze Ahmed and Muhammad Wali from Future World School FWS Lahore and Dua-e-Zahra, Alynah, Naveed and Emaan Khalil from Science School clinched the third position in the competition. The CRI-Millennium Confucius Classroom offers Chinese language classes across the Roots Millennium Education Pakistan in the private sector with an aim to allowing the students to become linguistically literate and culturally competent. The Millennium Chinese language department has now 18full-time teachers and nearly 9,500 students learning Chinese language. This initiative has also helped promote cultural, social, business and educational opportunities among China and Pakistan for the benefit of the future generations.