In the countries and regions along the Belt and Road Initiative, CCCC has built bridges, roads, ports, clean electricity facilities, and cities, contributing to the coordinated development of the local economy, society and people's livelihood. In the process, Chinese "mentors" have established strong friendship with their foreign mentees.
Ethiopia
Li Meng arrived in Ethiopia in 2019 to work on the WA project and met his mentee, Haowo. Haowo is a young and vibrant African girl who has always been fascinated by Chinese history, culture, and natural landscapes.
Through mutual learning of each other's language and culture, sharing family stories, and traditional foods, they deepened their understanding of each other. Now, the mentor and mentee are back in Ethiopia for the RG project, continuing their friendship.
Today, Haowo can handle various data processing and reporting tasks. She attributes her skills to her Chinese mentor and hopes to have the opportunity to study in China in the future to experience the profound Chinese culture.
WA project
Uganda
From the KE Highway Project to the expansion project of the Entebbe International Airport, Jin Sen and his assistant Opieti Mose have been working together for 8 years, becoming partners at work and forming a deep friendship.
Leveraging his extensive experience, Jin Sen patiently guides Mose in mastering skills and knowledge in the testing field. Opieti Mose, with humility, diligently studies and gradually grows into a capable test engineer.
Expansion project of the Entebbe International Airport
Cao Xiaokuo came to Uganda in 2018 and took charge of the on-site construction coordination and production technology for the MTP highway project. ElonGur William became his proudest mentee.
Upon their first meeting, the hardworking, intelligent, and rigorous teaching style of the Chinese mentor deeply moved William. During a construction problem with the structural wall, with the mentor's patient guidance, William successfully completed the steel welding and binding work.
William expressed that working on the MTP project not only allowed him to earn a living to improve his family life but also taught him valuable skills. He hopes his mentor will visit Uganda often, and he, in turn, will pass on the learned skills to contribute to talent development in Uganda.
MTP project
Cameroon
Li Yongtai is a staff member of the Yaoundé-Douala Highway in Cameroon. During the project's construction, he became the mentor of the Cameroonian young man Thomas, and they have formed a profound friendship.
Once, they encountered a difficult problem and worked persistently together, eventually finding a solution. This experience not only enhanced Thomas's technical skills but also added confidence to their friendly cooperation.
On hot summer days, Thomas would often hand Li a bottle of cold mineral water and greet him. These ordinary and warm moments are their most precious wealth.
Yaoundé-Douala Highway
Cambodia
Jiao Limin is the head of the Kirirom I hydropower plant, mainly responsible for safe production operations and training. After graduating from university, Kong Teayong came to work at the hydropower plant. The biggest obstacle to communication between mentor and mentee is language, as Jiao Limin told his Cambodian mentee, Kong Teayong, "To do the job well, we must overcome the language barrier."
Jiao Limin was determined to help Kong Teayong quickly learn Chinese. Jiao Limin taught Chinese while imparting technical knowledge. Over a year later, Kong Teayong could proficiently communicate in Chinese on familiar topics and had mastered equipment operation principles, safety work procedures, and simple accident handling.
Kong Teayong said, he wants to use the skills he has learned well and work diligently to repay his mentor.
Kirirom I hydropower plant