IU student Christos N. Papavasiliou was chosen by the Chinese Embassy as the contestant of the Chinese Brigde competition in China

A great success for the Chinese teaching program at the Ionian University: Christos Nikolaos Papavasileiou, a student at the Ionian University, was chosen by the Chinese Embassy to go to China to attend the competition finals in August 2025.

Mr. Christos Nikolaos Papavasileiou was awarded the Award of Excellence in the 24th Chinese Bridge-Chinese Proficiency Competition for Foreign College Students in Greece. This is the first time a student from the Ionian University took part in this global competition, which was held in Athens on May 30, 2025.

Praise goes to the students of the Chinese Language Courses classes and their competent teacher, Mrs. WANG Chunhui (Irida). The interdepartmental Chinese language program is organized by the Hellenic Sinology Center and the UNESCO Chair on Cultural Heritage of the Ionian University with the generous support of the Chinese Center for Language Education and Cooperation (CLEC), enabling the Ionian University to offer its students such a qualitative Chinese language program.

The Chinese Bridge Competition

The “Chinese Bridge” (汉语桥) is a prestigious international Chinese language and cultural competition organized by the Center for Language Education and Cooperation under China's Ministry of Education. Since its inception in 2002, it has attracted over 800,000 participants from more than 120 countries, serving as a significant platform for promoting Chinese language learning and fostering cross-cultural exchange.

The 2025 edition of the Chinese Bridge Competition continues its tradition of engaging non-native Chinese speakers worldwide. Participants are categorized into three main groups:

• College Students: Aged 18–30, enrolled in higher education institutions.

• Secondary School Students: Typically aged 15–20.

• Elementary School Students: Aged 12 and under.

The competition comprises multiple stages: preliminary rounds, semi-finals, and finals. Participants showcase their Chinese language proficiency through speeches, cultural knowledge quizzes, talent performances (such as singing, dancing, or martial arts), and impromptu Q&A sessions. Winners of regional contests advance to the global finals held in China, with top performers often receiving scholarships to study in China.