Guests pose for a group photo alongside the winners at the ceremony （COURTESY） 

Chinese Ambassador to Burundi Zhao Jiangping has successfully organised the writing competition entitled China and Me for the fourth consecutive year. The award ceremony was held on 1 February at the Chinese embassy in Burundi in the presence of Zhao, Ernest Niyokindi, director general in charge of bilateral relations at the Ministry of Foreign Affairs and Development Cooperation, members of the Chinese community living in Burundi, and several distinguished guests. Zhao emphasised that the China and Me competition has expanded significantly over the past four years, driven by the enthusiasm and strong support of Burundian friends from all walks of life. According to her, this contest not only reflects six decades of strong and enduring friendship between China and Burundi, but also illustrates the continuous strengthening of ties between the two countries, as well as between Burundi and the rest of the world, thereby promoting communication and mutual understanding. 

Bright future

Zhao was particularly moved by the essays written by the prize winners, who see themselves not only as beneficiaries of Sino-Burundian cooperation but also as determined actors contributing to the strengthening of friendly relations between the two peoples. She is convinced that the seeds of Sino-Burundian friendship already sown in the hearts of the youth will lead the relations between the two nations to a bright future. 

Looking back to 2023, Zhao said it was a remarkable year marked by the 60th anniversary of China-Burundi diplomatic relations and the accelerated resumption of exchanges and cooperation in various fields. 

On behalf of the Burundian government, Niyokindi stressed the importance of this event in strengthening Sino-Burundian cultural friendship and cooperation. He pointed out that the works submitted to the competition symbolise the indelible ties between China and Burundi, thus immortalising the excellent friendship and cooperation between our two countries. 

Niyokindi praised the initiative of the Chinese embassy in Burundi for not only organising writing contests but also promoting theatre, music and dance, thus supporting Burundian writers and artists. He encouraged China to continue supporting Burundi in the cultural field throughout the country. 

He expressed the hope that the participants of the contest would be instilled with Chinese values and become aware of the remarkable progress made by China in a short period of time, thus recognising China as a reliable and attentive partner in Burundi’s development. 

Ernest Niyokindi, director general in charge of bilateral relations at the Burundian Ministry of Foreign Affairs and Development Cooperation, speaks at the ceremony (COURTESY) 

In the fourth edition of the China and Me competition, six candidates won prizes - one first prize, followed by two second prizes and three third prizes - out of more than 50 entries. The organisers noted that the entries highlighted the positive expectations of Burundian people for the national development and their desire to further deepen Sino-burundian relations. Participants also explored the global impact of China-Burundi and China-Africa cooperation in building a community of shared future for mankind. 

An award ceremony was also held for another contest themed A New Chapter in Africa-China Friendship in the New Era. The competition, organised by the International Liaison Department of the Central Committee of the Communist Party of China, called for reflections on China-Africa friendship, exchanges and friendly cooperation in the current context, the construction of the new China-Africa Silk Road, and the benefits of exchanges and mutual learning between civilisations. Three Burundians were awarded prizes: one for the best short video and two for their essays. Nine other participants received a participation prize for their essays. The competition attracted entries from 30 countries, with nearly 250 written works and more than 20 videos. 

Rodrigue Ndayizeye, the winner of the first prize in the writing competition, expressed his gratitude for the award, which he sees as an encouragement to deepen his mastery of the Chinese language and his understanding of cultural exchanges between Burundi and China. 

Luchinga C. Hugues, winner of the first prize for best short video of the event A New Chapter in Africa-China Friendship in the New Era, speaks at the ceremony （COURTESY）

“I am deeply grateful for the recognition of my efforts and the immense potential you see in me. This esteemed honour serves as a constant source of inspiration for my future endeavours and is a remarkable testimony to my journey of learning Chinese. Receiving this prestigious award fills me with an overwhelming sense of pride, and I am eager to further explore and nurture my deep affection for China,” he said with sincere appreciation. 

Luchinga C. Hugues, a Burundian who won the first prize for the best short video, eloquently expressed his emotions, highlighting the significance of this win after 10 years of unwavering dedication to the craft of video production. “To share this victory with all of you fills me with immense emotion and deep honour. Since my childhood, it has been my dream to be recognised as a respected director in the Chinese film industry. This remarkable triumph marks a significant step towards the fulfilment of this cherished aspiration,” he said. “It is an entry into unexplored territories full of new adventures, and I firmly believe that it serves as a first stepping stone to extraordinary success,” he passionately added. 

The fourth edition of the China and Me competition was successfully held thanks to the invaluable joint support of the Confucius Institute of the University of Burundi, the Association of Chinese Enterprises in Burundi and the Association of Chinese Nationals in Burundi.