Students find unity in Chinese lessons
Competition helping narrow gaps and differences, promote global outlook
HANOI — Learning Chinese is helping students in Vietnam better understand concepts such as international relations and promoting cooperation.
“In an increasingly connected world today, I think that studying Chinese helps bring people together, and with the mindset of ‘One world, one family,’ we will build a better world together,” Hanoi University student Le Anh Duc said on Friday after winning the Northern Vietnam qualifying competition of the 17th “Chinese Bridge”, the annual Chinese proficiency competition for foreign college students.
At the competition themed “One world, one family” held by the Confucius Institute Headquarters and the Chinese Embassy in Vietnam, the third-year student outperformed 11 other finalists from 10 universities in terms of language, presentation, Peking opera and calligraphy skills, and knowledge of Chinese economy, politics, society and culture.
“The competition’s theme this year touches an age-old common aspiration. That is all people in the world living in peace, harmony and benevolence. Given that the world is now facing conflicts and terrorism, this theme also has topicality,” said the 21-yearold, adding that Chinese culture such as music, dance and calligraphy can help narrow gaps and differences to bring people closer to each other.
“I am keen on Peking opera (Jingju) and Chinese martial arts (Taijiquan), so at the final round in China, I will choose to perform either Jingju or Taijiquan,” said Duc, who performed part of the Peking opera Ba Wang Bie Ji (Farewell My Concubine) at the qualifying competition.
Duc said hoped to improve his Chinese and pursue further studies in the country.
“I’d like to major in tourism and travel management,” he said.
Duc’s understanding and explanation about the concept “One world, one family” have been echoed by many of his compatriots, including educators, lecturers and students.
They agreed that people of all nations around the globe should value peace, harmony, and mutual understanding and trust in state-to-state relations as well as in people-topeople exchange, promoting win-win cooperation and striving for consensus in achieving common goals.
Sayings impress
Many Vietnamese said that they are much impressed by Chinese famous saying such as “Do not do unto others what you do not want others to do unto you” by Confucius and “Within the four seas, all men are brothers” by one of his disciples.
Vietnamese students of the Chinese language are actively getting to know global and regional issues. They are interested in international relations, especially the traditional friendship and cooperation between Vietnam and China, said Nguyen Thanh Cong, vice dean of Hanoi University’s Chinese Department.
“This is one of the manifestations of realizing the Chinese idea of ‘Datong Shijie’ (the world of great harmony) in the past or ‘One world, one family’ at present, or to put it more simply, globalization or international integration,” he said.