[Vietnam] Phạm Thị Mai Lan, Ningxia University
The river of time never stops its flow. The spring just comes to an end, the heatwave of summer pours in one after another –suddenly I realized that time is really not durable.
In this tunnel of time and space, everyone will have their own fate. As an ordinary Vietnamese girl, my greatest chance in life was to come to China, a vast and populous country. I felt lucky enough to witness the development of China with my own eyes from a foreign land, and I really have knotted an inseparable relationship with China in the context of the New Era.
I have seen China on TV, in movies, in novels and especially on the internet. In history, China was wise and powerful, but it also suffered a lot... The new China after birth was poor and had to be built from scratch, but her people were optimistic, positive and full of hope... The nation becomes progressive, vibrant and full of energy after the Reform and Opening-up...
I used to imagine China after listening to my sister’s descriptions –a country with numerous tall buildings, moving cars and people living in abundance and happiness... So going to China has become a beautiful dream in my heart.
By chance, I finally arrived in China like a dream comes true in 2019. The new China in the new era was like a beautiful cloud-pattern brocade unfolding in front of me...
Economy develops rapidly for the benefit of the people. Tremendous changes have taken place in ordinary people’s food, clothing, shelter and transportation – basic necessities of life in the new era. Life has become more colorful than before.
From “one garment for all seasons” to “many garments for one season,” the love of beauty is rooted in everyone’s heart. People not only choose the quality of their clothes, but also pursue brands and fashion, reflecting their personality.
From “one clothes for many seasons” to “one season for many clothes”. Everyone has a love of beauty. People not only value the quality of clothes, but also pursue famous brands and fashion to reflect their unique personality.
With less than 10% of the world’s arable land to feed a fifth of the world’s population, China has made it. A Chinese saying goes, “The people take food as their priority.” The hybrid rice cultivated by Dr. Yuan Longping in Hunan Province should not be underestimated. In addition, China has innovatively promoted emerging technologies and scientific farming methods by encouraging cooperation between smallholder farmers, researchers and agribusinesses. From eating enough and eating well to the pursuit of nutritious and delicious food, nowadays you can eat various cuisines of the world without leaving the country.
There are more and more communities with complete amenities ranging from housing, travel, education, culture to healthcare and fitness. Housing conditions in numerous cities and rural areas have met the needs of the people. After my arrival to China, I had the opportunity to pay a visit to rural China. There are neatly arranged buildings in many villages with TVs, computers, refrigerators, air conditioners and all sorts of other appliances available. It is said that some of these places were listed as poor counties in China, which have shaken off poverty thanks to the precise poverty alleviation policies.
China, which used to be a bicycle kingdom, has quietly become a car kingdom. A trip without plan has become a reality in the new era China, meanwhile the Chinese have not forgotten to travel green. Public transport develops rapidly and riding shared bicycles has become a new fashion. After school, we international students also often use a yellow or blue shared bicycle and go out of campus to see the beauty of China.
China’s youth generations are full of creativity and innovative ideas. As “in the Yangtze River the waves behind drive on those before them,” China’s economy develops so fast thanks to the rapid development of science and technology.
Like the Four Great Inventions in ancient times, today’s shared bikes, high-speed railway, mobile payment and online shopping... have amazed the world and made China stand out in the new round of technological and industrial revolution. China’s science and technology in the New Era is changing day by day. The steam locamotive trains have been replaced by high-speed trains; the C919 large aircraft has made successful test flights. China has transformed from a big manufacturing country to a manufacturing power.
Showing a vibrant image on the international stage, Chinese youths have become the driving force behind the development of society, with the aim to build a better and stronger China. They have lofty ideals and work hard to achieve them, overcoming all the obstacles and challenges. I was so impressed by this spirit that I learnt from them the phrase “you have to work hard to win” and I can’t help giving them a thumbs-up.
Working together to fight against the pandemic, which struck suddenly in the 2020 winter holidays, we have witnessed the repeated resurgence of the coronavirus during the past three years. The Chinese government has always put people’s lives first, and the whole country has actively cooperated with all epidemic prevention measures. As international students, we were treated for and protected like family members. In the early days of the epidemic, our teachers advised us not to go out, to wear masks and to wash and disinfect hands regularly. College officials expressed care and condolences every holiday, distributing masks, thermometers, disinfectant and other items among us. In these three years, I have always felt that China is the safest place in the world and Ningxia University is the most comfortable place in China.
There are countless stories of a new China in the New Era. As an international student, I am honored to witness the glory and development of China, to live and study in China safely and happily. Chinese former premier Zhou Enlai once said, “Study for the rise of China,” and I want to keep these words in my mind after my returning to Vietnam. I hope that my own country, one of the countries along the BRI, will develop side by side with China.
Time flies and four years of undergraduate study have passed in the blink of an eye. Four years may be considered long and extravagant for many other students, but for me, these years seemed very limited. Because they were short, they were all the more precious. Like a door in time, it opened up the academic path of my life. I want to make good use of the time left to perceive the new China, to appreciate the beauty of the nation that I have not yet had the chance to see.
I love China of the New Era and I would like to be an envoy of friendship between China and Vietnam. May the new China move towards a more international and modern future!
The story is from "My Beautiful Encounter with China" Essay Competition organized by the Chinese Service Center for Scholarly Exchanges (CSCSE).
