Chongqing - 2023 marks the tenth anniversary since the Belt and Road Initiative was launched, dramatically enhancing trade cooperation and related infrastructure with nations from six continents worldwide. Chongqing is located at a critical juncture between the BRI and Yangtze River economic belt, which has raised interest amongst young students worldwide to undertake degree programs at universities based in the city, with many taking advantage of BRI scholarships to foster skills and contribute to development in their respective countries. In this series, iChongqing reporter James Alexander meets with overseas students from five top universities in Chongqing to learn about their impressions of life and study.
On a rainy spring day at Sichuan International Studies University (SISU), as the floating cloudlines gracefully obscured the mountaintops, we met Steven Nganga from the Democratic Republic of Congo, a master's student who was first attracted to Chongqing thanks to the natural beauty and the unique curiosity towards the internet hotspot of Liziba Station, where monorail trains glide through the tall building overlooking the Jialing River.
Kusakina Alina, a master's student from Nizhni Novgorod, Russia, was pleasantly surprised by her life in Chongqing. Her experience in the city far exceeded her expectations and contradicted the misleading depictions she had read about in articles back home. Meanwhile, Vietnamese master's student Bui Linh Chi found adjusting to life in Chongqing easy, noting the city's cultural similarities to Hanoi.
Zhu Tianxiang, Deputy Director of the SISU International Office, spoke with iChongqing to shed light on the institution's history of overseas student enrollment. Since 1983, SISU has educated over 3,000 students from more than 60 countries. The most popular programs among international students include Chinese Language and Literature, as well as Teaching Chinese to Speakers of Other Languages.
As the international student population begins to rebound, Steven has endorsed SISU as the go-to destination for those serious about mastering the Chinese language. Kusakina appreciates the warm hospitality of the people in Chongqing, along with the supportive guidance from her teachers. Linh Chi, on the other hand, enjoys exploring local attractions like the historic Ciqikou Ancient Town and the lively streets of Three Gorges Square.
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