Europe
2023.10.05 00:27 GMT+8

'My BRI Career Day': A day in the life of a Belt and Road Initiative employee

Updated 2023.10.05 00:53 GMT+8
CGTN

In a special series titled "My BRI Career Day," produced by China Media Group (CMG) Europe, five "Youth Cultural Ambassadors" were given a unique challenge. They were tasked with taking on a one-day job related to the Belt and Road Initiative (BRI).

The "My BRI Career Day" challenge featured five ambassadors hailing from Spain, Serbia, France, Sweden, and Greece who had been winners of of UN Chinese Language Day. They were given the unique roles of becoming a high-speed railway stewardess, a traditional Chinese medicine assistant, a China-Europe freight train attendant, a silk museum docent, and a wind power project inspector.

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One standout project they explored was the Yixin'ou, also known as the Yiwu-Madrid freight route. This is the world's longest cargo line, connecting China's bustling small commodity hub of Yiwu in Zhejiang Province to Madrid in Spain. It has emerged as a crucial component of cross-border transportation, forging strong connections among trading partners over thousands of kilometers.

Lucía Garcia Diaz took on the challenge of becoming a China-Europe freight train attendant for a single day. /CMG Photo

Lucía Garcia Diaz, a Spanish girl who was also the champion of the 14th Chinese-Bridge Chinese Proficiency Competition for Foreign Secondary Students, took on an exciting challenge by assuming the role of a China-Europe freight train attendant for a single day.

During her time in this role, she tried the work of submitting customs declarations, conducting cargo counting, unboxing, and inspecting goods. Through this experience, she recognized the significant convenience that BRI has brought to trade relations between China and Europe.

One noteworthy achievement along the BRI route is the 74.9-kilometer section of the Hungary-Serbia railway, connecting Belgrade and Novi Sad, which stands as a flagship project in Central and Eastern Europe. This railway section was officially opened on March 19, 2022. Since its opening, it has provided convenience for millions of people traveling between the two cities and has also boosted the economic development along the railway.

Marta Neskovic challenged to be a train stewardess at the Hungary-Serbia railway. /CMG Photo

Marta Neskovic, a doctor of anthropology with a fervent passion for Shaolin Kung Fu, embraced the challenge of being a train stewardess. Through her experience, she recognized the potential benefits of improved transportation infrastructure in boosting economic growth and connectivity in the region.

Over the past decade, with the active promotion of the BRI, China has been actively engaged in various green energy cooperation projects in Europe.

Sotiriou Eleni, a primary school teacher from Greece, went to the wind farms of Thrace in Greece to work as an inspector. While there, she came across a heartwarming story. Just a few months ago, as devastating forest fires swept through Greece, putting seven wind turbines at risk of being consumed by the flames, the Chinese and Greek teams made a collaborative effort to address this urgent crisis and avoid the looming disaster.

Sotiriou Eleni worked as an inspector at the wind farms of Thrace in Greece. /CMG Photo

What left the most lasting impression on Marta was the selfless dedication of the Greek staff, who sacrificed their holidays and rushed to the fire scene. They worked tirelessly through the night to create a quarantine strip, isolating the fire from the wind farm preventing further disaster.

Furthermore, Timothy Pilotti, a Swedish actor deeply passionate about Peking Opera, took on the role of a traditional Chinese medicine assistant. In a different field, Cleo Luden, a social media influencer from France, guided her audience on an insightful journey through the Silk Museum and Silk Workshop in Lyon, France.

These five young ambassadors collectively voiced their admiration for the fruitful outcomes of BRI cooperation. They expressed their aspirations to become BRI ambassadors, facilitating enhanced cooperation and cultural exchanges between China and Europe.

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