On May 18, 2025, Long Dingbin,Consul General of the People’s Republic of China in Perth,attended the Western Australia (WA), Australian Capital Territory (ACT), and Northern Territory (NT) Regional Finals of the 18th “Chinese Bridge” World Chinese Proficiency Competition for Secondary School Students, alongside the 2025 Chinese Language Student Awards Presentation Ceremony.

Guo Jiaoyang,Counsellor in charge of education affairs from the Chinese Embassy in Australia, Ms Sook Yee Lai MLA(representing Hon Tony Buti,Minister for Commerce; International and Tertiary Education; Citizenship and Multicultural Interests),Mr Pierre Yang MLC,Mr Sam Lim MP,and Mr Bruce Reynolds,Acting Lord Mayor of the City of Perth,attended the event.The gathering drew over 280 participants including contestants,teachers,parents and award recipients.

In his address, Consul General Long expressed gratitude to the WA State Government and local communities for their enduring support for Chinese language teaching. He emphasized that the “Chinese Bridge” competition has become a pivotal “bridge of friendship” fostering cultural exchanges between China and Australia. He further highlighted that learning Chinese empowers Australian students to deepen their understanding of China’s history and culture while unlocking future opportunities.

This event was co-organized by the Australia-China Friendship Association WA and the WA Chinese Library.The competing students showcased a diverse array of Chinese cultural performances, including traditional dances,folk music,calligraphy, martial arts, and tea ceremonies. The students’ talents in promoting cross-cultural engagement earned applause from the audience.