A contestant performs Chinese Kungfu during a preliminary round of the 9th "Chinese Bridge" proficiency contest at the National University of Modern Languages in Islamabad, capital of Pakistan, on May 14, 2010. [Yan Zhonghua/Xinhua]

The 9th "Chinese Bridge" competition, a Chinese language proficiency contest, was held in Pakistani capital Islamabad on Friday, highlighting the zest and talent from Pakistani students in Chinese language and culture.

Eight final contestants, who survived the first and second round of the preliminary selects, delivered their fluent Chinese and displayed their diverse talents at the National University of Modern Languages (NUML) in Islamabad.

The competition covered a wide range from quiz on China's culture, history and geography to delivering a speech in Chinese and a talent show. The finalists performed Wushu (martial art) , singing, Taiji, crosstalk and poetry reciting, all winning applause from the judges and audiences.

Sageer Ahmad from NUML won the first prize.

Ahmad, 23, told Xinhua that he has been learning Chinese for almost three years and he spent one year studying Chinese in Shanghai, wishing that he could do his due part for the friendship between China and Pakistan.

"Soon, I am going to China again to take a postgraduate program in Beijing," Ahmad said, "China is like my second hometown."

Syed Hasan Javed, the additional secretary of Pakistani Foreign Ministry, told Xinhua that the contest was successful and the young people in Pakistan take more and more interest in China's culture and heritage, which enhances the bilateral friendship and increases the youth contacts.

"I think the youth from the two nations will come closer and closer," said Javed, who had been missioned to China for over 10 years.

With the theme of "a bridge of friendship which crosses country 's boundary," the Chinese language contest was sponsored by the Chinese Embassy to Pakistan, the National University of Modern Languages and the Islamabad Confucius Institute.

The 9th "Chinese Bridge" competition, a Chinese language contest for non-native Chinese speaking college students is underway around the world. Ahmad and some other runners-up will represent Pakistan to participate in the global final to be held in China in late July.

Launched in 2002, the "Chinese Bridge" project played an ever- growing role in promoting the study of Chinese language and the understanding of Chinese culture among young people in many countries.