VIENTIANE, May 18 (Xinhua) -- Laos on Friday held the final round of its 13th "Chinese Bridge" contest, an annual Chinese proficiency competition for non-Chinese college students.

The contest, held at the National University of Laos (NUOL), was hosted by the Chinese embassy in Laos with the topic of "We are the world."

Comprising three sections of speech, real time Q&A and talent show, the contest drew the participation of 12 college students from the NUOL.

During the contest, contestants showed their Chinese language skill and understanding of the Chinese culture, while also competing in Chinese art performances. After intense competition, a student named Bouaphan Yachongtou from NUOL's Confucius Institute won the championship.

The NUOL started Chinese language teaching in 2003. In 2006, the NUOL Chinese Language Department selected its first representative to go to China to compete in the "Chinese Bridge" college student Chinese language competition. This was the 13th version of the NUOL's "Chinese Bridge" contest.

Addressing the contest, President of the NUOL Faculty of Letters Aloun Silattakoun said that in the past 12 years, students from Laos have won the third place twice in the finals of the "Chinese Bridge" competition held in China. Lao students stand out because of the hard work of teachers from China and Laos.

Aloun, on behalf of the competition organizer, expressed his sincere gratitude to the Chinese government for sending groups of qualified and talented Chinese language teachers to the university.

Hong Jiang, director of the political office of the Chinese embassy, said the embassy has coordinated with the NUOL to host 12 "Chinese Bridge" contests so far.

Hong expressed wishes that more Lao youngsters would learn Chinese language, understand Chinese culture, and to become the inheritors and the builders of the bilateral friendship.