When Nexul, a former bank employee from Tajikistan, witnessed firsthand how the Belt and Road Initiative (BRI) transformed infrastructure and trade routes across Central Asia, she made a life-changing decision: to leave her finance career and pursue Mandarin studies in Lianyungang, Jiangsu Province.
"Learning Chinese isn't just about language – it's a bridge to understanding China's role in shaping global connectivity," Nexul told KhabarAsia.com. Her journey reflects a growing trend among Central Asian youth seeking to align their skills with regional economic integration efforts.
Lianyungang, a strategic BRI hub port city, has become her classroom. The city's position as a critical node in China-Europe rail networks offers Nexul daily insights into cross-border logistics and cultural exchange. "Every container ship here tells a story of international cooperation," she observed during a port visit organized by her language school.
Educators report a 40% increase in Central Asian students enrolling in Chinese language programs since 2020, with many citing BRI-related career aspirations. For diaspora communities and business professionals tracking Asia's evolving economic landscape, such personal narratives highlight the human dimension of transnational development projects.
