The Seminar on Chinese Language for Government Officials from Belt and Road Countries, officially launched in Xiamen, located in Southeast China's Fujian province in early July.
The seminar brought together 23 government officials from seven countries, such as Palestine, Gambia, and Egypt, for a 21-day training. It aimed to cultivate talent in developing countries, enhance cultural and economic exchanges, and promote high-quality development of the Belt and Road Initiative.
The courses combined Chinese language learning with field visits, covering topics such as "Chinese + AI" and business negotiation in Chinese, alongside explorations of ecological city development, smart city construction, and modern governance.
Participants visited Yundang Lake, Junying village, and digital economy enterprises in the Jimei district of Xiamen, gaining insights into Xiamen's efforts in ecological restoration, rural vitalization, and technology applications. Elsherbeiny Mohamed Atta Zeinelabdeen, international tourism director of the Egyptian Tourism Authority, noted that the transformation of Yundang Lake offered valuable lessons for other countries.
According to seminar director Hu Jiangang, dean of the Chinese Language and Culture College at Huaqiao University, the curriculum emphasized both cultural communication and field investigation. In addition, participant Bokarie from Sierra Leone suggested establishing a regular exchange mechanism with Xiamen to support future cooperation.
China has launched a new pilot program to allow eligible enterprises greater access to overseas financing in support of green and low-carbon transformation projects, the country's foreign exchange regulator said on Aug 21.
To further streamline the experience, China is expanding tax refund stores, broadening the range of refundable goods, and refining refund procedures, ensuring an efficient and seamless shopping experience for global visitors.
