VALLETTA, May 3 (Xinhua) -- Maltese students explored Chinese culture in the fourth Chinese character writing competition for primary and secondary school students in Malta which was held here this weekend.
Themed "Poems for Spring", the contest at St. Martin's College brought together 22 participants from nine schools across Malta on Saturday. It was co-organized by the Maltese Ministry for Education, Sport, Youth, Research and Innovation and the Confucius Institute at the University of Malta.
The Maltese students was divided into primary and secondary groups, and presented the works by poets Wang Zhihuan and Du Fu in the Tang dynasty, blending language practice with literary appreciation.
Alice Micallef, director of the Early Years, Languages and Humanities Program in the Maltese education ministry, said the fact that the contest has been held in a row reflects the steady development of Chinese language education in Malta.
She added that the ministry will make continuous efforts to encourage young people in Malta to learn Chinese, expand cultural horizon and promote mutual understanding between the people of Malta and China.
Chen Guihua, counsellor at the Chinese Embassy in Malta, noted that Chinese characters carry rich cultural and aesthetic value. By presenting Chinese classic poems, Maltese students can strengthen language skills while gaining insight into Chinese culture.
Nie Aixia, Chinese director of the Confucius Institute of the University of Malta, said the contest integrates language learning with cultural exchanges, and can serve as a bridge promoting the understanding and friendship between young people in Malta and China.
Launched in 2023, the competition has evolved into a platform combining calligraphy, poetry and cultural experience, displaying the progress of Chinese language education in Malta and deepening the people-to-people exchanges between the two countries. ■
