Chongqing- 2023 marks the tenth anniversary since the Belt and Road Initiative was launched, which has greatly enhanced 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.

Islam MD Shamaun from Bangladesh completed a Master's degree in management science and engineering at the Chongqing University of Posts and Communications in 2023, following in the footsteps of a younger brother who studied in Sichuan on a BRI scholarship program and recommended Islam do the same based on his strong academic performance back home.

In his formative years before embarking on overseas study in Chongqing, Islam recalls fond memories of watching Chinese films such as Journey to the West and kung fu stars like Jacky Chan. Later, his family was delighted to learn he had been accepted for a BRI scholarship provided by the Chinese government, particularly his mother, who saw this development as a rare opportunity.

Bangladesh has already benefitted from multiple BRI projects over the past decade thanks to cooperation with China, such as a data cloud system that has allowed mobile device users to access digitalized government services, a 4G Huawei telecommunications network with 16 million people now connected, and enhanced capacity in the electrical grid thanks to the new 3000-megawatt coal-fired power plant.

Chongqing University of Posts and Communications has been admitting overseas students since 2000, with the most popular degree programs being Communication Engineering, Computer Science and Technology, and Economics and Management. Located on the 4A-rated scenic area of Nanshan, known as the "lungs of Chongqing," students worldwide have long favored this famous university for its high education standards and pristine learning environment.