London final highlights Chinese learning on the rise in the UK

The final competition of the 5th Chinese Teaching Championship for English Speaking Countries in Europe was held in London on Saturday alongside the annual conference of the Association of Chinese Teachers in the UK.

It highlighted the growing scale and professionalism of Chinese language education across Britain and Ireland.

The event brought together educators from universities, secondary schools and primary schools across England, Scotland, Wales, Northern Ireland and Ireland. 

Zhou Wei, Minister Counsellor for Education Affairs at the Chinese Embassy in the UK,  stressed that the event served as a platform for professional exchange among teachers and encouraged the sharing of classroom practices and teaching approaches.

Internationally, interest in learning Chinese has continued to grow in recent years. 

As of 2025, more than 90 countries have incorporated Chinese into their national education systems. 

In the UK, 30 Confucius Institutes and 165 Confucius Classrooms are operating steadily, with more than 100,000 school students studying Chinese on a weekly basis. 

Commenting on this trend, Professor Joël Bellassen, Inspector General for Chinese at the French Ministry of Education, noted that many countries now recognize Chinese as an international language. 

As more fluent speakers emerge, learners are discovering that Chinese is not as difficult as they once imagined, and that learning the language serves as a key to deeper engagement with Chinese culture.

This growing enthusiasm is also reflected among young learners. Last year, more than 700 students from over 120 schools across the UK took part in the annual Chinese Bridge competitions. 

Among previous standout participants were Atom Uniacke, winner of the Best Performance Award at the 5th Chinese Bridge Primary School Global Final, and his brother Solo Uniacke, champion of the 4th edition.

Reflecting on his experience, Atom said that learning Chinese has transformed the way he understands the country.

"I can communicate with people and understand what's happening around me. It helps me appreciate Chinese culture, traditions and places on a much deeper level," he said.

Solo emphasized the language's global value. "If you can speak both English and Chinese, you can almost travel anywhere in the world. Together, they open doors to education, careers and opportunities that really help you stand out."

The event took place as UK Prime Minister Keir Starmer wrapped up his visit to China, drawing renewed attention to the role of people-to-people exchanges in China–UK relations. 

Dr Heather Inwood, Associate Professor at the University of Cambridge, described language learning as a vital part of that process. 

She added that, in a world facing shared challenges- from climate change to global security - learning each other's languages can make international cooperation not only possible, but significantly easier.