Footprints

Featuring the China-Europe Railway Express, or the CR Express, the Ganzhou International Inland Port in China’s Jiangxi Province has grown into a comprehensive trading hub for exporters and importers around the world. Since April 2017, over 1,300 freight trains have been sent out from here to over 100 cities across Central Asia and Europe, unlocking enormous potential along the route. Join us in this episode as we explore how this once humble port has developed into a global gateway.

Eighty year-old Lin Zhanxi is a Chinese agro-scientist who has invented the technology of growing mushrooms with grass. Since the birth of this technology in 1986, it has played an important role in helping farmers increase their income and environmental conservation both in China and in many other developing countries. At present, this technology, called Juncao, has been adopted in more than 100 developing countries such as Papua New Guinea, Rwanda and the Central African Republic.

Togolese national Léon Kossivi, also known as Su Xin, has found both professional fulfillment and personal happiness through his involvement in the Belt and Road Initiative's infrastructure projects in Senegal in west Africa. Over his 12 years with the China Road and Bridge Corporation, he has contributed significantly to vital projects like the Dakar Bus Rapid Transit system, making a tangible difference in the lives of local communities.

Gabriella Bonino, known as the “Contemporary female Marco Polo”, shares her extensive travels in China, retracing Marco Polo's journey on the Silk Road. Topics discussed include excavating ancient shipwrecks in Wenzhou-Shawman, the history of Buddhist pagodas and maritime trade, the life of artist Ku Shulan, and the preservation of intangible cultural heritage in China.

Dancers Simon Abbe from Cameroon and Jiang Keyu from China are not only partners on stage but also a loving couple in life. Over the past decade, they've actively bridged the cultural gap between the two countries with their love and art. Through performances and community projects, they've nurtured ties that bind people across generations and geography. Join us in this episode of 'Connected' to explore how their artistic journey has fostered a living bond between China and Africa.

​Thirty-nine year-old Zhang Yiqing is an infrastructure project builder. Over the past 13 years, he has helped build a series of projects in the Bahamas, Egypt and many other countries. Always ready to take challenges and passionate about his work, Zhang has demonstrated to the world the superb building prowess and excellent teamwork of Chinese builders.

Sharing a border of more than 4,700 kilometers, China and Mongolia have been deepening cultural and economic connections continuously within the framework of the Belt and Road Initiative. The bond between the two nations was strengthened in 2020 when exchanges of goods and medical supplies occurred, known as the "gifts of sheep and tea". As participants of this friendly gesture, Li Mengyang and Zhao Yun share from their personal perspectives of how this demonstrates a joint effort in fighting the pandemic while strengthening the vibrant trade between the two countries.

Dong Lili from China’s Jiangsu Province is an eye doctor with over twenty years of experience. She is also a member of the Chinese medical team dispatched to Zanzibar to provide health aid. This region has long been plagued by high rates of visual impairments. In this episode of ‘Connected’, we bring you the stories and challenges faced by a Chinese doctor in Africa, her motivation for joining the medical team, and her hopes and dreams for the future.

​Forty-five year-old Jin Zhaoyu is a Chinese restorer who has helped with the restoration of the splendid Ta Keo Temple, one of the major temples in the UNESCO world heritage site of Angkor in Cambodia. Serving as “doctors of the cultural relics,” Jin and his fellow Chinese restorers have revived the former glory of the Angkor monument after years of hard and smart work. But how exactly has he worked to restore the iconic ancient temple? And what has really driven him to travel thousands of miles in geography and hundreds of years in time to pursue and revive the glamour of the ancient Khmer Empire? Join us to find out.

"Footprints" presents "Connected," a gripping 10-episode series arriving on July 13th on all major podcast platforms. Join us on this wondrous journey that takes you into the lives of ordinary people whose destinies intertwine with the ancient Silk Road and the Belt and Road Initiative.