[Pakistan] Ajmal Muhammad Zeeshan, Zhongnan University of Economics and Law

I am from Pakistan and am currently pursuing a PhD in international law at Zhongnan University of Economics and Law. I have always been interested in China’s profound culture, long and profound history, and rapid development. Out of my love for China, in 2018, I applied for the Belt and Road Initiative Intellectual Property Master’s Program at Zhongnan University of Economics and Law, and was successfully admitted. I later learned that 2018 was the first year of enrollment for the program, and I was very fortunate to receive a scholarship to become the first batch of students. The Belt and Road Initiative seems to be the first key to open the door for me to study in China. I cherished this hard-won opportunity and couldn’t wait to get to know and explore China, and since then, I have used my vacation time to visit all parts of China, and every place I have visited has made a different and unforgettable impression of China’s beauty.

I visited Wuhan, the capital of Hubei Province, which is an important transportation hub, science and education base, and industrial base in China. The deeds of the “Hero City” have spread all over the world and continue to affect me, and it is a testimony and epitome of the tenacity and unity of the Chinese people. When I heard the bell of Jianghan Pass ringing, watched the sunrise over Donghu Lake at Lingbo Gate, enjoyed the evening breeze by the Yangtze River, and walked by the Nanhu Lake, I felt extremely happy to study here.

I visited Beijing, the capital of China, the political and cultural center of China. I have visited the majestic Forbidden City, the Great Wall and Tiananmen Square, and I feel like I have stepped back in time. I have visited modern skyscrapers, and the high-rise buildings are lined up one after another, representing the rapid development of Chinese modernization; I enjoyed the hutongs of old Beijing, where I tasted local snacks and chatted with the locals. In a city where history and modernity are perfectly combined, I feel like I am traveling back and forth between history and the future, and I am struck by its grandeur and magnificence.

I’ve visited Shanghai, China’s financial and business powerhouse. I admired the city’s innovation and vitality in the dazzling night view of the Bund, and I marveled at the creativity of China and the talent of Chinese artists in the rich and diverse museums and galleries. In this multicultural city, I have seen the miraculous transformation and development of China’s economy.

I visited Xi’an, the ancient capital of China, a world-famous historical city. I marveled at the magnificence of the Terracotta Army, it is really a treasure buried for thousands of years; I love delicacies like dumplings, noodles and lamb kebabs; I was fascinated by the history and hospitality of this city. At the same time, Xi’an, as the starting point of the ancient Silk Road, also retains many historical relics and cultural heritage from the Silk Road period, from which I learned about the Silk Road and its important impact on the cultural exchanges between Chinese and other civilizations, imagining that I could follow the footsteps of the merchants who traveled through the vast expanse of the land during that period.

From the ancient Silk Road to today’s Belt and Road Initiative, China has never stopped interconnecting with other countries for economic and cultural purposes. In 2013, Chinese President Xi Jinping proposed the Belt and Road Initiative, which attracted global attention. In my opinion, this is a very far-sighted initiative. Ten years later, the China-Pakistan Economic Corridor, as the flagship project of the Belt and Road Initiative, has brought great benefits to my home country Pakistan in a number of high-profile fields such as energy, transportation, industry, agriculture, manufacturing, technology, etc. What impressed me the most was that they helped my country overcome the power shortage, built roads and improve infrastructure, creating huge number of jobs, and promoted Pakistan’s economic growth. In the process, they continued to deepen the friendship between China and Pakistan as all-weather strategic partners.

My beautiful encounter with China originated from the Belt and Road Initiative, and has been given different opportunities in the continuous development of the initiative. Studying in China has been a wonderful experience, as it has given me valuable knowledge, skills and experience that will help me in my future career. It has helped me make many friends from different countries and cultures, enriching my worldview. I am grateful to China for the opportunity to complete my master’s degree here and pursue my PhD, and to continue to explore more of China’s culture, history and development. The wonderful encounter with China is still ongoing, and I will continue my journey of learning and exploration in China and strive to contribute to the common development and prosperity of our two countries.