China News Service, Berlin, March 3

　　China News Agency reporter Peng Dawei

　　"Dear teacher Peng Liyuan, we have read your letter to teachers and classmates many times, and we are very excited!" This scene took place at Bole High School of Arts and Science (Bole Middle School) in Essen, North Rhine-Westphalia, Germany, which has just resumed classes recently.

The students of the school read aloud the letter from Peng Liyuan, the wife of Chinese President Xi Jinping, in fluent Chinese.

　　Located in the Ruhr area of ​​the traditional industrial belt in western Germany, Bole High School is one of the 12 oldest public high schools in Germany. It has offered Chinese language courses since 1994 and has organized many exchanges of teachers and students to China in recent years.

　　When it comes to learning Chinese and interacting with China, the teachers and students of KDU Middle School will mention a Chinese class in 2014.

In March 2014, during a state visit to Germany accompanied by President Xi Jinping, Peng Liyuan visited the school and listened to Chinese classes.

Inspired by Peng Liyuan, Bole Middle School established a Chinese Choir.

　　In recent years, the students and graduates of Bole Middle School have been active on the stage of the "Chinese Bridge" World Middle School and University Students Chinese Competition, and have achieved great results.

In October 2016, Leopold Raab, a student from Bole Middle School, won the championship in the finals of the 9th "Chinese Bridge" Chinese Proficiency Competition for World Middle School Students in Kunming.

　　As the only Chinese choir composed of middle school students in Germany, the members of the Chinese Choir of Bole Middle School have participated in important German-Chinese diplomatic activities many times, and the Chinese choir has gradually become a bright "business card" for the school's Chinese teaching.

　　In July 2014, the Chinese and German prime ministers met at the Temple of Heaven in Beijing with representatives of the young people of the two countries who attended the closing ceremony of the Sino-German Language Year. Students from Bole Middle School sang Chinese and German songs.

　　In October 2016, Peng Liyuan cordially met the teachers and students of the school who came to China to study in Beijing.

Peng Liyuan said that in the past two years, the students have not only become more fluent in Chinese, but also sing better in Chinese songs.

　　The outbreak of the new crown epidemic in early 2020 made the teachers and students of Bole Middle School far away in Germany care about their friends in Wuhan and all over China.

Under the organization of Zhang Yungang, the head of the Chinese Choir and the Chinese teacher of the school, the members and the students who had been to Wuhan to participate in the autumn camp recorded "Let the World Full of Love" in Chinese.

At the most strenuous moment of fighting the epidemic, the singing of young Germans warmed the hearts of countless people.

　　One year later, on the eve of the Chinese New Year of the Ox in the Chinese Lunar New Year, the four choir members who were waiting for the resumption of classes at home recorded "After the Epidemic" again because the German epidemic had not ended, which also received enthusiastic responses online.

　　On February 9, Peng Liyuan cordially wrote to the teachers and students of Bole Middle School, encouraging them to make new contributions to enhancing the friendship between the Chinese and German people.

Peng Liyuan said that I carefully watched the video of four students from the school’s Chinese choir singing the Chinese song "After the Epidemic". The students sang a good wish to support people from all over the world to overcome the new crown pneumonia epidemic as soon as possible.

A year ago, the students supported China's fight against the epidemic with the song "Let the World Be Filled with Love" and conveyed their friendship to the Chinese people.

　　The letter read: "At present, the epidemic is still raging around the world. I am very concerned about the health of my classmates and hope that you and your family will protect yourself. I believe that the snow and ice will eventually melt, and spring is on the way. People from all over the world work together and will surely Beat the epidemic."

　　After the official resumption of classes at Bole Middle School a few days ago, the staff of the Chinese Embassy in Germany made a special trip to the school, forwarded Peng Liyuan's letters to teachers and students and received replies.

　　"When I heard that Professor Peng saw the video of us singing "After the Epidemic", I was very pleasantly surprised!" Josephine Martin, who is now in high school, said that she agreed with Peng Liyuan's writing in the letter, as long as people work together , Will surely defeat the epidemic.

　　Peng Liyuan also wrote in the letter: "You are welcome to come to China to exchange and study after the epidemic, and to enhance the friendship between the Chinese and German people, especially the younger generation." The reporter noted in the interview that at Bole Middle School, the love of learning Chinese and the exchange with China The enthusiasm has become a continuing tradition.

　　Among the four students who participated in the recording of "After the Epidemic", one is Maximilian Koelges, who is already in the third year of university.

Kong Hao, who made a special trip back to his high school alma mater that day, said: “In 2016, I was fortunate to tell Professor Peng my love of Chinese culture in Beijing and share my experience of teaching in Guilin. I read the letters from Professor Peng repeatedly. I'm very touched!"

　　When I met Peng Liyuan with Kong Hao, Ma Jiefei's sister Ma Jieya (Letizia Martin).

Patrick Martin, Ma Jieya, Viviana Martin, and Ma Jiefei, whose German surnames are "Martin", attended Bole Middle School. The four brothers and sisters all fell in love with learning Chinese.

　　"The students succeeded in getting the people of Germany and China to pay attention to the special challenges faced by each other's country, and with this, I was very proud of them." (Simone Reuen) said in a reply to Peng Liyuan that she has carefully understood the development of Chinese teaching in the school and is very proud of this. “I am very willing to continue to deepen the tradition of German-Chinese exchanges in KDU High School. I think our exchanges The activities have played a tangible role in the exchanges and mutual learning between the two peoples and the protection of peace." (End)