A Chinese-speaking contest was held in Cairo on Monday to promote language skills of Egyptian college students.

 

All participants were top Chinese-learning students from universities of Cairo, Al-Azhar and Ain Shams which have run Chinese courses. The competitors displayed their skills in speaking and performance.

 

Three contestants from Al-Azhar University won a travel award that will help them attend further contests and cultural activities in China.

 

Xu Zhiguo, director of the Chinese Cultural Center in Cairo, said that the contest will help promote the ability of Egyptian college students in Chinese-learning and enhance people-to-people contacts between the two countries.

 

Abd El Aziz Hamdi, director of Chinese-language faculty of Al-Azhar University, told Xinhua after the competition that he was satisfied with the excellent performance of his students who had made tremendous efforts to prepare for the event.

 

He added that thanks to increased exchanges between Egypt and China, more Egyptian universities, like universities of Alexandria and Minya, will introduce Chinese courses in the coming years.

 

(Xinhua News Agency April 18, 2006)