Abazova Albina is riveted to the screen, captivated by a video on the Belt and Road Initiative (BRI). With the third Belt and Road Forum for International Cooperation unfolding, this Kyrgyzstani pre-university student from the University of International Business and Economics (UIBE) bubbles with excitement for what the BRI holds for her country's development.
"China's rapid development took me by surprise. In Beijing, skyscrapers are everywhere," the Chinese Government Scholarship recipient said.
Albina, along with several international classmates, are from countries along the Belt and Road. Under the university's arrangement, they watched a promotional video highlighting the ten-year achievements of the BRI.
They were granted the Chinese Government Scholarship, an award issued by the Ministry of Education for talented students and scholars to pursue higher education or conduct research in Chinese universities, in order to strengthen mutual understanding and friendship between the Chinese and people around the world and promote China’s exchange and cooperation with other countries in various fields.
"I believe China is a country of peace, safety, harmony, and positive development. In class, I've gained more knowledge of the Chinese language and have come to understand its rich history and culture better. I love China, adore UIBE, and cherish my teachers and classmates," said Smirnova Sofia, a Russian student and Chinese enthusiast.
As for Lakhamphouy Vanpaseuth, attending UIBE marks his second journey to China. This time around, he has chosen to personally traverse the Belt and Road, embarking on an adventure along the China-Laos Railway.
The 1,035-kilometer China-Laos Railway is an electrified line that links Kunming, the capital of Southwestern China's Yunnan province, with Vientiane, the capital of Laos. A trip from Vientiane to Kunming is now a brisk 10.5-hour ride.
It started operations in December 2021, and opened a cross-border passenger service in April, with bullet trains running in both directions.
"The China-Laos Railway is a flagship project of the Belt and Road Initiative, offering many new opportunities for Laos's development. Local residents and businesses have both benefited from it," he said.
Having lived in China for over a decade, Sharaf Sultan Saleem Raweh has witnessed China's remarkable transformation. This young Yemeni man fondly refers to himself as "half Chinese". He said, "It's spurred economic development in Yemen and other Arab nations. As a decade has passed, I hope for even closer cooperation between Yemen and China and eagerly anticipate an even more brilliant next ten years."
This year marks the 10th anniversary of the BRI, and the third Belt and Road Forum for International Cooperation was held in Beijing from Oct 17 to 18.
The initiative was proposed by China but belongs to the whole world. The BRI has benefited Albina and her classmates at UIBE by not only providing a better learning environment, but also offering opportunities for them to experience modern infrastructure and have bigger dreams.
