BUCHAREST, June 2 (Xinhua) -- The Romanian final of the 17th "Chinese Bridge" contest, also known as Chinese Proficiency Competition for Foreign College Students, was held here Friday at the University of Bucharest.

16 contestants from four Confucius Institutes in the country competed in the qualification contest. Hathazy Borbala from Confucius Institute at Babes-Bolyai University, Cluj-Napoca won the competition, thanks to her better language level, and versatile talent show in singing, dancing and martial arts.

Borbala will represent Romania for the "Chinese Bridge" international final in China, while Adriana Antoche from the Confucius Institute at University of Bucharest will go to the final as a spectator.

Mircea Dumitru, Rector of the University of Bucharest, said the vigorous development of Chinese education in Romania provides a better foundation for bilateral cultural exchanges, and these young people who use Chinese as a medium will become the messengers of the friendship between Romania and China.

The rector stressed that the University of Bucharest will continue to support Chinese education and support the Confucius Institute.

Tu Jiang, an official with the Chinese Embassy in Romania, emphasized in his opening remarks the importance of language in promoting bilateral relations.

"Language is a bridge for communication," he said. "We will continue the traditional friendly relations between China and Romania, and further deepen cooperation in all areas under the Belt and Road Initiative and the 16+1 cooperation framework."