AMMAN, May 14 (Xinhua) -- The 24th edition of the 'Chinese Bridge' Chinese Proficiency Competition for Foreign College Students in Jordan selected the country's champion on Wednesday to represent the country at the global finals, to be held in Beijing later this year..

During the country's final held at the University of Jordan, 13 contestants from the University of Jordan, Philadelphia University in Jordan, and the Talal Abu-Ghazaleh Confucius Institute showcased their Chinese language skills through speeches, knowledge tests, and talent performances.

Younis Abu Alsondos from the Talal Abu-Ghazaleh Confucius Institute secured the champion and will represent Jordan for the Beijing finals. Sama Al Shuaibi from the University of Jordan won second place.

The country's final was organized by the Chinese Embassy in Jordan and hosted by the Amman Chinese Cultural Center and the University of Jordan.

Addressing the final, Chinese Ambassador to Jordan Chen Chuandong stressed the importance of language in understanding the world and connecting people's hearts.

"Through the Chinese language, we can feel the pulse of the changing times and get up close to the open, inclusive, and ever-changing modern China," he said.

Chen highlighted the growing popularity of Chinese language learning in Jordan, with over 1,000 students enrolled in the country's two Confucius Institutes and seven Chinese language programs.

He called on the youth to tell the stories of the China-Jordan and China-Arab friendship, and contribute to mutual learning and closer connection between Chinese and Arab civilizations, as well as deepening practical cooperation between China and Arab countries.

Marwan Al-Jarrah, dean of the School of Foreign Languages at the University of Jordan, highlighted the vital role of language in building bridges between cultures, saying that the Chinese language has become a key to understanding and engaging with the world, and that his university has placed the Chinese language at the heart of its development.■