SOFIA, May 17 (Xinhua) -- Bulgaria's fifth "Chinese Bridge" -- the Chinese Proficiency Competition for Foreign Secondary School Students, were held here on Thursday.

Liu Yonghong, cultural counselor at the Chinese embassy in Sofia, told the opening ceremony that over the last years, along with the rapid economic growth, the number of students studying Chinese language has been dramatically increased in many countries, including Bulgaria.

Vanya Kastreva, head of the Sofia Inspectorate of Education, said that China's good proposals for the education of Bulgarian students and the desire of Chinese students to study in Bulgaria, further strengthen international cooperation in education.

Ten students, representing about 300 teenagers studying Chinese in Bulgaria, demonstrated Chinese language skills and knowledge about China through essays, dances and songs.

Carolina Hristova, 16, who won the competition, will travel to China for the finals together with her two runners-up, Maya Lazarova and Marina Encheva.

The "Chinese Bridge" competition was first organized in Bulgaria by the Confucius Institute in 2008 to inspire Bulgarian students between 15 to 20 years old to learn Chinese and enhance their understanding of the Chinese culture.