BRICS youth expect summit to enhance cooperation in finance, trade, education

XIAMEN - As the 2017 BRICS summit draws close, young people from Russia, Brazil, India and South Africa who study or work here are expecting the summit to promote enhanced cooperation in finance, trade, education, and beyond between BRICS countries.

The 9th annual summit of the bloc, scheduled for Sept 3-5 in Xiamen city of East China's Fujian province, is expected to provide more opportunities for emerging economies and injecting impetus into economic globalization.

Anait Agadzhanian from Russia, who majors in finance, will graduate from Xiamen University this year. She plans to find a job in China because she thinks she has more opportunities here.

Agadzhanian said she believes the long-time good relationship between China and Russia will reach a new level within the BRICS framework, in areas such as financial cooperation.

The two countries have done some work on the integration of banks within the BRICS framework and help to raise funds for developing countries, she noted, adding that a lot more need to be done.

"That will present lots of opportunities for me particularly," she said, noting that she hopes to facilitate cooperation between Chinese and Russian banks and governmental organizations with her bilingual skills.

Agadzhanian, who has been living in Xiamen for more than two years, said she was surprised at how friendly and welcome people are here, and would like to tell people about a different and diverse China.

Brazilian businessman Marcos Caldeira came to coastal city Xiamen four years ago to learn Mandarin. He soon started his own business for exporting Chinese stone products to South America.

"I hope the BRICS summit will further promote trade between Brazil and China and reach more reciprocal deals," he said, seeing it as a great opportunity to expand his business.

Caldeira, who imports processed marble products from Xiamen and sells them to Brazil and other markets, has seen rapid growth of his business in the past two years, with its export value exceeding $10 million in 2016.

The Brazilian businessman fell in love with Xiamen at the first sight. "The first impression is like 'WOW'! It's a very nice city, very developed, very clean... the weather was amazing...," Caldeira recalled.

Apart from achieving success in his business, Caldeira also found his love here and held his wedding recently. "I am very thankful for Xiamen," he said.

Kanika Rupani from India said she thinks relations between India and China will improve with the BRICS summit. "I think business people will get more chances. We are hoping that business will get better and better between India and China," she said.

Rupani came to China three years ago for her children's studies. Her husband has been in China for 20 years.

"One time my daughter got the first rank in Mandarin in her school, it's like a very touching moment for me," Rupani said, noting that she was curious about how she learns Chinese with other foreign students.

Rupani, who has become a volunteer in the city's Guanren Community, said she would like to learn more Chinese and communicate with local people, "to share our culture, to share our tradition, for a better relationship between India and China."

South African Wilma Hugo, 27, is studying Chinese in Xiamen. His plan after graduation is to go back to South Africa and become a Chinese language teacher.

"I'm really hoping this meeting can lead to some outcomes", Hugo said, noting that his focus of the summit is on education. Hugo said he hopes the relationship between China and other BRICS countries can be strengthened in the educational field.

Hugo, a fan of Chinese characters and ancient Chinese series, said he is fortunate to have benefited from an agreement between China and South Africa, in which China trains South African teachers for free.

He hopes to help his people understand China a little bit more, as they are sometimes confused about the faraway Oriental country. "If I can help them understand Chinese culture, history and geography, that would be good," he said.