Youthful reflections and 2024 aspirations

Having lived in China for eight years, Nawaz is currently focusing on the study of oracle bone script, an ancient form of Chinese writing found on bones and tortoise shells from the Shang Dynasty (1600-1046 BC).

With eight years of experience in Chinese language and culture, Nawaz aspires to become a Chinese language teacher in the future. "Teaching Chinese is much more than just a language. You need to broaden the culture to your students," he said. "When I have the opportunity, I will take part in some Pakistani cultural activities where I can introduce Chinese people to Pakistani culture."

Ivan Sa Nogueira, hailing from Cape Verde, pursued his master's degree in teaching Chinese to speakers of other languages at Beijing Language and Culture University. He selected the word "friendship" to characterize the year 2023.

"I think the relationship between the two governments of China and Cape Verde is always associated with 'friendship', and I believe that this is the way the two countries develop together for international relationships," he said.

According to Nogueira, China not only provided essential medicines to Cape Verde during the COVID-19 pandemic but also played a crucial role in the construction of a new campus for the University of Cape Verde, now the largest university in the country. Beyond infrastructure development, China also contributed to the establishment of the first Cape Verde Confucius Institute.

"I got the chance to teach Chinese there at that time. In the past, most of us foreigners believed it might be impossible but now it is quite possible," Nogueira said.

"There's a Chinese saying, 'You should adhere to your original aspiration'. It signifies that one should not forget their origins," he added. "So my perspective for the new year is to engage in business in China to connect China and my country in this way and to endeavor to improve the economy of Cape Verde."