Among the volunteers at the 8th China International Import Expo, Halim Sanli, an international student from Shanghai Jiao Tong University stands out. He not only embodies the SJTU spirit of "building bridges between different cultures" but also experiences personal growth through his immersive cross-cultural experience.

Halim Sanli is a 2024 postgraduate student from Turkiye at the School of Humanities. He previously led a summer social practice program in Yiwu, Zhejiang province, and now serves as a CIIE volunteer.

To him, CIIE is far more than an exhibition. It symbolizes China's proactive engagement with the world, offers insight into the country’s latest technological and trade advancements, and provides an international platform where he can use his multilingual skills to assist enterprises from around the globe.

When asked why he chose to sign up as a volunteer, he explained that he hopes to use his language abilities to contribute to cross-cultural understanding.

His passion for facilitating international exchanges took root during his summer social practice program in Yiwu this year. As the international student leader, Sanli experienced the vitality of global trade firsthand at the Yiwu International Trade Market, often called the "world's supermarket".

Fluent in both Chinese and English, he assisted foreign buyers and local vendors in communication, helping facilitate cross-border procurement deals. In Yiwu's language classes, he taught practical Chinese to business representatives from over 10 countries, covering topics from price negotiation to cultural differences.

"During that time, I saw firsthand how cross-cultural communication could lead to real, tangible cooperation," Sanli recalled. His experience in Yiwu reinforced his belief that language is not merely a tool, but a bridge connecting people's hearts and minds, and deepened his understanding and anticipation for the CIIE, which features a broader stage and more diverse participants. "The cross-cultural communication skills I gained in Yiwu made me more confident to better serve exhibitors and visitors from around the world at the CIIE," he said.

Sanli's connection with China began long before his arrival. During his undergraduate studies in Turkiye, he was impressed by China's growing influence on the global stage, saying that "I saw a vibrant and dynamic China. Learning Chinese was, without a doubt, a doorway to the future." This belief motivated him to choose Chinese as his second foreign language.

As his studies progressed, he became fascinated not only by the aesthetic beauty of Chinese characters but also by the ideas and culture embedded within them, which inspired him to visit China and immerse himself in the culture. After completing his bachelor's degree, he embarked on a journey to China, enrolling in his current academic program.

During his time in Shanghai, Sanli has sought out unique ways to better understand Chinese culture. Campus life became his starting point for cross-cultural exploration.

In a group performance for the China International College Students Innovation Competition, he performed on the Chinese drum for the first time. In SJTU's "International Communication Star" speech contest, he compared Chinese and Turkish idioms, sharing the beauty of both cultures: "Though our languages differ, our wisdom connects us. It showed me the endless possibilities of cultural understanding and common ground," he said.

Outside the campus, he traveled across China to broaden his perspective. In Beijing, he climbed the Great Wall and grasped the heroic sentiment behind the saying "He who has never been to the Great Wall is not a true hero." In a rural village in Liaoning, he served as a volunteer teacher, carefully designing interactive lessons to help students enhance their English abilities. In Xinjiang, he joined students from around the world to appreciate the snow on the Tianshan Mountains and the feel the winds that sweep across the grasslands. He was captivated by the beautiful scenery, but what touched him the most was "truly experiencing the meaning of 'harmony in diversity' and understanding the essence of China's vision of 'community with a shared future for humanity.'"

From classroom learning to CIIE volunteer work, from cultural immersion to communication, the young student is carving out his own unique path of cross-cultural engagement. "Languages may have boundaries, but understanding knows no borders," he said with a smile. "May we all become bridges of culture, allowing the world to meet through dialogue and thrive through shared resonance."

The volunteer recruitment for the 8th CIIE received an enthusiastic response from SJTU students, with 397 applications submitted. A total of 70 on-site service volunteers, two auxiliary management volunteers, and five reserve volunteers were selected. With students from diverse academic and cultural backgrounds, the volunteer team not only contributes to this international trade gala but also gains valuable opportunities for mutual learning, cross-cultural exchange, and personal growth.

Source: Youth Shanghai