Zhou Weilin: Bond between an Egyptian Young Man and China

In July 2023, a wedding of local national style was held in a church in Karakol, an eastern city in Kyrgyzstan. The bride Beishebaeva Aidai is a local Chinese language teacher at the Confucius Institute of the Bishkek State University, with the Chinese name Aidai. She is a native Kyrgyz girl. The groom Omar Ghobashy is an Egyptian young man, with the Chinese name Zhou Weilin. He is a business manager of a Chinese company based in the United Arab Emirates. Five years ago, they applied for graduate studies in Chinese language at Tongji University in Shanghai in the meantime, and finally met and fell in love in China.

After graduation, Aidai returned to Kyrgyzstan, while Zhou Weilin first returned to Egypt, and then to the United Arab Emirates. Distance did not separate the passionate lovers, and the Chinese language became a bridge for them to express their feelings. In the end, witnessed by numerous relatives, friends, and Chinese language teachers, the two foreign lovers got married in Kyrgyzstan.

On July 3, 2023, the wedding of bride Aidai and groom Zhou Weilin was held in Kyrgyzstan, applauded by many guests from the Confucius Institute at Bishkek State University.

Everything Starts with 'learning Chinese'

In 2014, Zhou Weilin was admitted to the Language School of Ain Shams University in Egypt. After research, he selected "the strong political and economic cooperation between China and Egypt" as his major goal. To improve his Chinese proficiency, Zhou Weilin chose to study Chinese courses at the Confucius Institute at Suez Canal University during the summer vacation of his freshman year and developed a great interest in Chinese culture. In the end, he passed the HSK Level 3 test and HSK Speaking Test (Intermediate level) with full marks, received the International Chinese Language Teachers Scholarship and had the opportunity to study Chinese Language and Literature at Tianjin Foreign Studies University.

The study experience in China improves Zhou Weilin's Chinese proficiency and impresses him with Chinese customs, habits and culture. In 2018, Zhou Weilin went to Tongji University in Shanghai to pursue a master's degree in International Chinese Language Education. During his campus life as an Egyptian student, he represented Tongji University multiple times on the platform and in various social welfare activities. At Tongji University, Zhou Weilin fell in love with a Kyrgyz girl who also studied there. "Looking back on my past life, I realize that all the beauty in life began with 'learning Chinese'. I will be forever grateful for learning Chinese," said Zhou Weilin when talking about the past.

In November 2021, Zhou Weilin, who returned to Egypt after completing his studies, joined the CBD Project of the New Administrative Capital of Egypt (hereinafter referred to as the "New Capital CBD Project"), a key project of the "Belt and Road" jointly constructed by China and Egypt, and contracted by Egypt Branch of the China State Construction Engineering Corporation (hereinafter referred to as "CSCEC Egypt"). CSCEC Egypt operates and manages the New Capital CBD Project, and will provide efficient and convenient services to local residents in the next 15 years. This project directly or indirectly employs nearly 30,000 local laborers, and Zhou Weilin was one of the beneficiaries. "The New Capital CBD Project is regarded by Egyptians as a modernization symbol. As its staff member to contribute to our country, I am extremely proud," said Zhou Weilin.

During the 2023 Spring Festival, Zhou Weilin (second from right) and his colleagues took a photo in front of the New Capital CBD Project.

Zhou Weilin, with a lively and outgoing personality, is engaged in overseas communication and cross-cultural integration at CSCEC Egypt. He curates and organizes school-enterprise cooperation, cultural symposiums, and other activities, communicates and coordinates with local government, enterprises, and educational institutions, and assists the team in curating and shooting videos. Among them, three video works Love, I am a Bridge of Friendship between China and Egypt and I am Building the Highest Building in Africa won awards in the Belt and Road Initiative Short Video Competition of the Chinese Embassy in Egypt. Two videos including Egypt's New Dream were released at CCTV.com. The short video China in My Eyes won the first prize in the short video contest of the Chinese Embassy in Egypt, and was forwarded by the Ministry of Foreign Affairs of China, the Chinese Embassy in Egypt, etc.

Zhou Weilin is grateful that with his previous study experience in China, he could "participate in such a historically significant and influential project", and "contribute to communicating Chinese culture". In his opinion, the joint construction of "Belt and Road" Initiative has had a direct impact on his life. "China's leading skyscraper construction technology is slowly teaching young Egyptians to pave the way for our own infrastructure and construction," he said.

A New Choice for Egyptian Youth

The trend of "Chinese+" under the "Belt and Road" Initiative has greatly renewed foreign cooperation and exchanges. The rapid development of China and the increasingly close cooperation between China and Egypt have revealed the necessity of learning Chinese to more and more people.

Local China-invested enterprises are widely considered as a good employment choice. Young Egyptians working there could enhance their language proficiency and professional skills, as well as get sound treatment and a favorable platform to grow into outstanding international talents. Zhou Weilin introduced that in 2014, only three universities in Egypt had Chinese language departments. In 2016, the heads of state of Egypt and China signed a strategic partnership agreement, and various universities in Egypt established Chinese language departments. Currently, there are 12 public high schools in Egypt offering Chinese language courses, and nearly 30 universities offering Chinese majors. Moreover, four Confucius Institutes, two Confucius Classrooms, and two Luban Workshops have been established. The "Chinese fever" and "Chinese culture fever" gradually prevail in Egypt. "Leading China-invested enterprises are settling in Egypt one after another, providing employment opportunities for young Egyptians and new opportunities for Egyptian industry," said Zhou Weilin.

At the 2023 Spring Festival gathering of CSCEC Egypt, Zhou Weilin served as the host.

From the classic action movies of Bruce Lee and Jackie Chan to today's Chinese pop dramas and emerging stars, many Egyptian students of the Chinese language major naturally talk about their familiar plots and characters. The continuous cultural and tourism exchanges between the two countries have bridged the physical distance of thousands of miles between them. As the shadow of the COVID-19 pandemic dissipates, the two people are looking forward and planning to visit each other's country. Zhou Weilin also shared a trifle: "Two weeks ago, my cousin contacted me and expressed his desire to learn Chinese to develop his career. I told him to sign up for the Chinese courses at the Confucius Institute as soon as possible!"