Winners receive their awards after the qualifying round of the 17th "Chinese Bridge" held in Hanoi, Vietnam, on May 25, 2018. (Xinhua/Yan Jianhua)

by Tao Jun, Bui Long

HANOI, May 27 (Xinhua) -- Studying Chinese has helped him better understand concepts such as "One world, one family" and "within the four seas, all men are brothers," a Vietnamese college student said.

"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 told Xinhua Friday after winning the final round of Northern Vietnam 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," the 21-year-old student in a black-and-white elegant tunic said, 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 art (Taijiquan) as mustard, so when partaking in the coming final round of the international 17th 'Chinese Bridge' in China, I will choose to perform either Jingju or Taijiquan," said Duc, whose performance of part of Peking opera "Ba Wang Bie Ji" (Farewell My Concubine) at the competition on Friday brought down the house.

Student Le Anh Duc of the Hanoi University receives the arward after wining the first prize in the qualifying round of the 17th "Chinese Bridge" held in Hanoi, Vietnam, on May 25, 2018. (Xinhua/Yan Jianhua)

Duc said that after the international competition in mid-2018 in China, he would spare no efforts to improve his Chinese and pursue further studies in China. "I like the major of tourism and travel management," he said, adding that traveling not only broadens the mind but also connects hearts for a better world.

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-to-people exchange, promoting win-win cooperation and striving for consensus in achieving common goals.

Many Vietnamese told Xinhua 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.

In recent years, more and more Chinese educational institutions are offering scholarships and discounted tuition fees to Vietnamese students, while organizing more classes of Chinese language and arts for students, as well as intensive courses for university lecturers, Do Thanh Van, head of the Confucius Institute at Hanoi University, told Xinhua

All the Chinese language, calligraphy, singing and paper-cutting art classes sponsored by the institute are always overloaded with Vietnamese learners, she said, adding that the institute is holding courses on foreign relations and protocol etiquettes for cadres of Ho Chi Minh Communist Youth Union and student volunteers.

Now, Vietnamese students of 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, Nguyen Thanh Cong, vice dean of Hanoi University's Chinese Department, told Xinhua on Friday.

"This is one of 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 put it more simply, globalization or international integration," he added.

One of his students, Mai Trang, who is also member of the Confucius Institute's dancing troupe that performed Chinese dance "Hao ri zi" (beautiful days) at the competition on Friday, told Xinhua that she also loves the idea "One world, One family," saying that family members are closest to each other, so it is perfect for all people in the world to treat each other as brothers and sisters.

"I will register for the 'Chinese Bridge' next year, and I will study tourism management at Peking University in the next few years," the freshwoman student in Chinese traditional red costume said.

Vietnamese students' high demand for studying Chinese in Vietnam and then pursing higher education in China is partly attributed to the expanding and deepening cooperation and exchanges between the two countries, said Nguyen Thi Cuc Phuong, vice rector of the Hanoi University.