Conditions ripe for international students to return to China

Rapid development

Phearum Vannaseka is an undergraduate at Beijing Jiaotong University, majoring in financial management. The 21-year-old Cambodian native believes that more students from her country will come to China to study as the country optimizes its epidemic control measures.

China has rapidly developed its economy, technology and education system, she said. "As an international student studying in China, I have firsthand knowledge of the fact that Chinese universities don't just teach theories and principles; they also conduct experiments. As a result, the students quickly understand the lessons and their enthusiasm in class increases," she said.

She added that she came to China to study because it is a highly diverse and historic country.

"There are many things to discover and do in China, but the main attraction, in my opinion, is tied to the amazing architecture, delectable cuisine, martial arts and lengthy history of creation," she said. She added that Chinese people are genuinely helpful and courteous, and she was pleasantly surprised by how polite they are.

"They are really kind to foreigners like me, young and old alike. For instance, I frequently got lost on the street early on, but every time I asked, the local people responded in kind voices and with friendly smiles. I had a homey feeling overall," she said.

Isidore Chitosi, 23, from Malawi, is a postgraduate student in civil engineering at Beijing Jiaotong University. He decided to study the subject in China because in recent years, the country has made headlines across the globe for its "skyscraper boom", and the related buildings are famous for going beyond the boundaries of traditional engineering.