From Abu Dhabi to Hainan: An Emirati's dream to see the 'sister port'

Arriving at Khalifa Port in Abu Dhabi, capital of the United Arab Emirates, a modern container terminal comes into view. Tens of thousands of containers are neatly stacked on the terminal, forming vast, colorful arrays.

Not far offshore, ocean-going cargo ships shuttle back and forth, sailing in an orderly manner to all corners of the world. This terminal is a flagship Belt and Road project jointly operated by COSCO SHIPPING Ports Limited and Abu Dhabi Port Authority.

Amidst this bustling yet orderly scene, Reem Mohammed Alhosani has been diligently working for nearly three years. During an interview with People's Daily Online, the Emirati local introduced that her job duties are accounting, payment processing, and supplier coordination, adding that she was initially attracted to join COSCO SHIPPING by its international work environment.

Prior to joining the Chinese company, Alhosani's original impression of China and the Chinese people mostly came from her university studies, where she learned that Chinese people are "disciplined and result-oriented." However, after working closely with her Chinese colleagues day in and day out, her perception underwent a profound shift.

According to Alhosani, her Chinese colleagues are not only serious and efficient at work but also consistently sincere and kind. "They gave me guidance and kindness, and they welcomed me with open arms, and made me feel as comfortable as I am, which showed me how valued I was."

What Alhosani cherishes even more is the multi-cultural atmosphere. "I enjoy working in multi-cultural environments, because every time I learn new perspectives, and it makes me become more adaptable," she said.

In April 2024, with the official launch of the direct shipping route between Yangpu Port in south China's Hainan Province and Khalifa Port, the two "sister ports" across the seas achieved an even closer connection. This has also sparked a yearning in Alhosani's heart.

"Many friends around me have described the beauty of China to me, but seeing is believing," Alhosani said with a smile, expressing her hope to visit Hainan one day and travel to more cities in China.