Amazing Affinity of the First Saudi "Chinese Bridge" Champion with Chinese Language

As one of the world's oldest languages and the most widely spoken language, Chinese has captivated people around the globe with its unique beauty in phonetics, imagery, and form.

With the strengthening comprehensive strategic partnership between China and Saudi Arabia in recent years, exchanges and cooperation in various fields have continued to expand, sparking a growing enthusiasm among the Saudi people to learn Chinese and know more about China. Especially after HRH Prince Mohammed bin Salman bin Al Saud announced the incorporation of Chinese language in Saudi Arabia's education system during his visit to China in 2019, more and more students are aspiring to study in China.

One such student is Ahmed Sulaiman Alhayfani, a junior student at King Abdulaziz University in Saudi Arabia, who adopted the Chinese name Zhang Yunfei. In July 2022, he emerged as the champion of the first "Chinese Bridge" competition held in Saudi Arabia, triumphing through all the rounds.

On July 20, Ahmed Sulaiman Alhayfani delivers a speech at the final round of the "Chinese Bridge" Chinese Proficiency Competition for Foreign College Students in Saudi Arabia, in the capital city of Riyadh, Saudi Arabia.（Photo by Wang Haizhou/Xinhua News Agency）

"When I was a child, nostalgia seemed a small stamp..." Ahmed Sulaiman Alhayfani passionately recited these words at the "Chinese Bridge" Chinese Proficiency Competition for Foreign College Students, inviting everyone into his Chinese language world.

"Although some friends told me that Chinese language is very difficult, with the incorporation of Chinese language in the Saudi national education system and the increasing number of people learning Chinese, I still chose to major in Chinese language while studying at university." He recalled his journey of learning Chinese.

"Chinese characters are very difficult to write, so I overcame this obstacle through continuous practice; Chinese speaking and listening are quite challenging, so I improved my Chinese language skills by learning about Chinese cuisine in Chinese restaurants, watching Chinese movies, and having voice chats with my Chinese teachers." Through relentless efforts, he made significant progress in Chinese learning, passing the HSK 3 test in the second semester of his freshman year. What made him even more delighted was that his family felt proud of him for learning Chinese and developed an interest in China.

During the process of learning Chinese, he thought that the luckiest thing that happened to him was meeting his Chinese language teacher, "Teacher Li". When talking about Teacher Li, he couldn't stop praising, "Teacher Li would show us videos about Chinese culture and teach us to sing Chinese songs. Even during online classes, Teacher Li designed many games to enhance classroom interaction, such as Chinese character challenges. Under Teacher Li's guidance, I discovered that Chinese language is so fascinating."

What touched Ahmed Sulaiman Alhayfani even more was that, after registering for the "Chinese Bridge" competition, Teacher Li practiced with him for one to two hours every day to prepare for the speech video. When he won the championship, he thought to himself, "I really wish Teacher Li could be by my side."

As his understanding of China deepened through learning Chinese, he increasingly believed that choosing to learn Chinese was the best decision he ever made. Chinese language has brought positive changes to his life, connecting him with China and making his future full of hope. After this competition, he has set new goals for himself. "I've been learning Chinese for two years, and I will continue to work hard, hoping to study in China as soon as possible and experience China in person. Currently, the relationship between China and Saudi Arabia is becoming closer, and I believe that the friendship between the two countries will grow deeper. I wish to contribute my strength to the bilateral friendship," He stated.