Upon arriving at Xiamen National Accounting Institute, I am amazed by the lush green and warm sunshine. It’s stunning to see such beauty after a long journey," said Ms. Melita, a tax officer from the Department of Finance of Pohnpei State in the Federated States of Micronesia,.

On October 15, 2024, 32 fiscal and tax officials and corporate financial managers from 8 countries embarked on a seven-day learning journey at the Seminar on Fiscal and Tax Management for BRI Partner Countries. Ms. Melita was one of 32 participants in this seminar, and her first impression of XNAI resonated with the other attendees. As participants from different nationalities and backgrounds gathered in this ecologically scenic garden-like city, the joy of "Is it not a delight to have friends come from afar?" became tangible and vividly alive.

Ms. Melita: "Like Xiamen, we have sunshine, beaches, the ocean, and coconut trees."

Ms. Melita's homeland is the Federated States of Micronesia, located in the central Pacific region. It comprises 607 islands of various sizes, with four main islands—Pohnpei, Chuuk, Yap, and Kosrae—forming the country's four states. Ms. Melita and her companions on this trip, Joseph, Jeffrey, and Cecilia, are all officials from the Department of Finance of Pohnpei State. Interestingly, when being invited to introduce themselves in their native languages, they said, "We all speak English, but our native languages differ. Perhaps we can greet everyone in four different languages." Upon further discussion during this seven-day seminar, it became clear that the four states of Micronesia collectively use eight local languages. They hail from different islands and speak distinct local languages.

The delegation of four from the Federated States of Micronesia departed from Pohnpei in the early hours of October 13, flying first to Guam, then onward to Seoul, and finally arriving in Xiamen around noon on October 14. As another tax officer, Mr. Jeffrey, put it, "The journey took over eight hours totally, with layovers in two cities, spanning a full day and night. But the moment we arrived, I felt it was all worth it."

The local customs and atmosphere of Xiamen felt warmly familiar to the four visitors, who also hail from coastal regions. "Micronesia is a tropical island nation," Ms. Melita shared. "When we entered the Xiamen National Accounting Institute and saw the trees on campus, it almost felt like returning to a 'second actual home.'" She further explained, "Like here, we have sunshine, beaches, the ocean, and coconut trees. We also love eating fish, shrimp, and scallops." As if destined for a special connection with this second actual home, Ms. Melita even celebrated her birthday there during the training program.

The Federated States of Micronesia enjoys a tropical maritime climate with a coastline stretching 6,112 kilometers. Its scenic coastal landscapes are dotted with tropical plants such as coconut palms, banana trees, and breadfruit trees. The region is rich in fishery resources and is world-renowned for its tuna production, with an annual catch of 157,000 tons within its exclusive economic zone." Do you like fishing? If you come to our country, I could take you fishing!" enthusiastically invited by Mr. Joseph, the head of the tax department.

Mr. Daniel: "You brought out the cake and sang 'Happy Birthday,' just like the surprise my family prepares for me every year."

During the seminar, two participants celebrated unforgettable birthdays: Ms. Melita from Micronesia and Mr. Daniel, an official from the Department of Fiscal and Development Planning at the Ministry of Finance of Liberia. The program manager from XNAI prepared cakes and greeting cards for both, while all their classmates joined in singing "Happy Birthday" to celebrate the two birthday stars.

"As we hoped, this birthday celebration in China would make you feel as warm as if you were back home." When Mr. Daniel read these words on the greeting card, he was deeply touched. "I truly feel so warm, just like at home, because this is exactly what my family does for me," he said. He recalled pointing at the calendar before his departure and telling his daughter, "You won't be able to see me on my birthday." Every year, without fail, his daughter would greet him first thing in the morning with a "Happy birthday, Dad!" His wife and daughter would always surprise him—sometimes by bringing out a cake, other times by singing "Happy Birthday" together in the room."Just like what you all did for me," Mr. Daniel added with a slightly shy smile. "It really took me by surprise! I never imagined that anyone other than my family would remember my birthday and prepare such a heartfelt surprise for me. Thank you all so much! I hope to bring my wife and daughter to China one day for a vacation, to explore more of this beautiful country together."

A delegation of five from the Liberian Ministry of Finance visited China. Among them, Mr. Sam, the policy analyst remarked, "What I've seen during this trip has left a deep impression on me. China's infrastructure is highly developed, and its public services and social security systems are also very advanced." The debt analyst Mr. Tony added, "We exchanged and discussed ideas in the classroom and also learned about China's history, all of which was truly fascinating. The training program was exceptionally well-organized, seamlessly guiding us from one location to another. I must admit, this trip to China is highly recommended—not because you asked, but because I've witnessed firsthand how remarkable China is! I genuinely hope to visit again."

Ms. Nancy: "Both my husband and I work for a Chinese automotive company in Egypt. "

This was the first time for Nancy from Egypt to China. However, during the conversation, it became apparent that she was no stranger to the country.

"Both my husband and I work for a Chinese automotive company in Egypt — the Egypt Branch of Brilliance Auto Group. I started working there 2 years ago, while my husband has been there for about 6 years. I have many Chinese colleagues, and I even started using WeChat 5 years ago to stay in touch with them. I often learned about different aspects of China through our conversations. But nothing compares to what I've seen and experienced on this trip. It's been incredible to actually come to China, meet its people, and learn about its culture and so many facets of the country firsthand!"

At the same time, Ms. Nancy's husband also came to China and was attending a training program on automotive application and maintenance technology for developing countries in Fuzhou, Fujian. "My husband had been to China for conferences before, but this longer training trip has given him a different perspective," Ms. Nancy shared. During the site visit in Shenzhen to BYD Co., Ltd, Ms. Nancy was so excited that she had already discussed it with her husband over the phone the day before. He shared his experiences at BYD with her. "He excitedly told me about test-driving a car at BYD," Ms. Nancy said. The next day, after her own visit, Ms. Nancy couldn't wait to share her impressions with her husband. She remarked, "When we return to Egypt, we will tell our people about what we saw here – the advanced level of technology BYD has achieved and how we can collaborate with them to introduce this technology to Egypt."

"I have worked for companies in various countries, including the United States, South Korea, and India. Two years ago, I chose to join a Chinese company, and it has been a wonderful experience for both my husband and me. Both China and Egypt are ancient civilizations with long histories. We both love our countries and take great pride in their rich histories and flourishing cultures," Ms. Nancy reflected.

As Chinese President Xi Jinping stated at the opening ceremony of the Third Belt and Road Forum for International Cooperation, the ancient Silk Road is remembered as friendly emissaries leading camel caravans and sailing treasure-loaded ships.

On the first day of the seminar, the program managers introduced participants to the Chinese saying: “How happy we are to meet friends from afar!”in Chinese, a phrase that instantly won everyone’s interest. As the seminar continued, these words traveled with the participants, echoing the journey across Xiamen and Shenzhen.

And today, hearing this ancient Chinese saying spoken warmly by people from different countries and walks of life, it’s as if we can hear the bells of those caravans ringing again, connecting hearts across the world, and see the sails of friendship drawing closer than ever.