From July 15 to 28, 2022, 25 participants from 6 countries—Lebanon, Egypt, Oman, Morocco, Iraq, and Jordan—attended the Seminar on Cross-Border E-Commerce for Arab Countries held by the Academy for International Business Officials, MOFCOM, via video link. During the fourteen-day seminar, focusing on the topic of cross-border e-commerce, Chinese renowned professors and scholars we invited to hold over 20 lectures, discussion sessions and online tours to share China’s experience of developing cross-border e-commerce with participants from Arab countries. Participants highly commented on Chinese experts’ teaching for their vivid illustrations laced with classical allusions and praised China for its development, culture and the spirit of openness and shared benefits.
“China’s economic miracle is rare worldwide”
During the seminar, Mme. Hadir Samir, Foreign Trade Researcher from the Ministry of Trade and Industry, Egypt, impressed the executive team of AIBO with her active participation in each session and enthusiasm for questions and comments.
Screenshots of the chat with Mme. Hadir
Screenshots of Mme. Hadir’s questions and comments in class
During the icebreaker of the seminar, when asked whether she came to China before, Mme. Hadir said that although she hadn’t been to China before, she, as a foreign trade researcher and a lover of Chinese history and culture, had been interested in China for a long time and looked forward to going there one day. “An old Arabic saying goes that seek knowledge even if you have to go as far as China.” said Mme. Hadir, “China’s economic miracle is rare worldwide. I always hope to learn from China’s economic growth to benefit Egypt.”
“I felt China’s kindness, generosity and its relentless efforts for promoting global peace, development and openness”
At the closing ceremony, Mme. Hadir, the representative of the participants, delivered a speech and expressed her appreciation and thanks for the seminar. She said “This seminar provides us an opportunity to learn China’s knowledge and development experience of e-commerce. It’s my pleasure and honor to attend this seminar. In this seminar, I gradually found that those speakers’ illustration also carried China’s kindness of helping other countries, its generosity of sharing knowledge and its relentless efforts for promoting global peace, development and openness. China has gained marvelous achievements in economic growth and becomes the only country with all industrial sectors in the world. The two-week fruitful journey also inspires me in my doctoral thesis writing.”
“The seminar is like a beacon of knowledge that sheds its light on us; it is also an infinite treasure house that gives us generous gifts”
Mme. Hadir also said “Not only I, but also my 7-year-old son benefits a lot from the seminar. He sometimes listened to the lecture with me. We took the course on Chinese history and culture by Professor Xue Qingguo. Because of the time difference, the lectures started very early in Egypt. Even for this, my son used to get up early and come to ask me what kind of knowledge of China to be learned today. This is a good question. The seminar is like a beacon of knowledge that sheds its light on us; it is also an infinite treasure house that gives us generous gifts. Given this, I’d like to extend my thanks for the Academy for International Business Officials for your efforts of making this seminar a complete success. Thanks for the active participation of my Arabic colleagues and the work of all speakers and the interpreter. We benefited a lot from the seminar with your assistance. I sincerely hope that the COVID-19 pandemic can end soon so that I and my families can visit Chinese sightseeing one day.”
The seminar participant and the “unregistered participant”—Mme. Hadir and her son
“An Arabic Poem for China”
Poetry is the shining treasury in the course of human civilization. There are countless masterpieces in Chinese and Arabic history. Even now, people still write poetry to express their aspirations, which also adds glory to the friendship and exchanges between China and Arab countries.
At the closing ceremony of the seminar, Mme. Hadir said emotionally, “To conclude, please allow me to offer you a poem inspired by this seminar to express my gratitude.”
An Arabic Poem for China (English Version)
Fascinated by Chinese people, I feel the rush of my love for you
Oh, China
Your history is full of wonderful legends
Your legacy is full of interesting stories
Your natural sightseeing is like a beautiful painting
Oh, China
You are a bride in red
Your cities are beautiful and magnificent
You are a loving mother
Enjoying the filial piety of your children
For your children, the Chinese people, are so gentle, united, sincere and persistent
At the end of the seminar
Except the word “China”
Nothing could I find
To express my thoughts
C: Counsel, support and assistance
H: help us better understand China
I: Instructors are wise and resilient
N: Narrating the knowledge in a simple and easy way for us to understand
A: All your kindness and virtues bring happiness to me like a spring breeze
From Hadir Samir
Foreign Trade Researcher, Ministry of Trade and Industry, Egypt
Speech by Mme. Hadir
“An Arabic Poem for China” written by Mme. Hadir
(Translated from Chinese version by Ms. Hu Peiyu, Beijing Foreign Studies University）
