China News Service (Chengdu), January 24
By Yue Yitong
“I have a small dream: to become a bridge between the Republic of the Congo and China, and between Africa and China,” said Yang Si (IBARHAT OKOBO JOÏCE ROLD YANNICE), an international student from the Republic of the Congo at Chengdu University of Technology, describing his New Year’s wish in fluent Chinese.
At the age of 18, Yang came to China to study at the suggestion of his parents and has now spent eight years in the country. Reflecting on his journey during a recent interview with China News Service in Chengdu, Yang admitted that at the beginning he knew little about China and formed his initial impressions mainly by searching for news online. “When I first arrived, I didn’t speak any Chinese at all, which made me quite anxious,” He recalled. He soon realized that understanding and integrating into a country begins with understanding its culture—and that the Chinese language is the key to opening that door.
From stumbling through everyday conversations to smoothly reading professional academic literature in Chinese, Yang has steadily improved his language proficiency. In 2024, he won first prize in the finals of the “My Story of Chinese Hanzi” competition organized by the Chinese People’s Association for Friendship with Foreign Countries.
Yang is about to pursue a PhD in Environmental Science and Engineering. He noted that China is at the forefront of technological innovation in environmental protection. A strong command of Chinese is essential for understanding the technical details in professional literature and for participating more deeply in practical projects such as wastewater treatment and ecological restoration. This knowledge, he hopes, will allow him to better apply what he has learned to meet the development needs of the Republic of the Congo in the future.
Yang’s travels have taken him across China—from Sichuan to Jiangsu and Heilongjiang—but Sichuan remains his favorite place. “Because of my influence, my 13-year-old sister has already started learning Chinese. She says she hopes to come to China someday—especially to Sichuan—and make more Chinese friends.”
Yang frequently participates in China–Africa cultural exchange activities. In his view, the Belt and Road Initiative has created broad development opportunities for African countries, and the younger generation plays an important role in promoting exchanges and cooperation between Africa and China. “China is a very inclusive country,” he said. “It welcomes people from all over the world to study and work here and gives us equal opportunities for development. We should also do our best to contribute to cooperation between Africa and China.”
This year marks the China–Africa Year of People-to-People Exchanges, and Yang has his own hopes for the future. He plans to continue improving his Chinese proficiency while helping connect the technological strengths of Chinese universities with the development needs of his hometown. He also hopes that China and Africa will further leverage the advantages of international students—who understand both sides well—to encourage greater participation in Belt and Road projects.
