Footprints

More than 460 million metric tons of plastic are produced every year, and around 20 million tons end up polluting our environment. It’s in our oceans, our soil, even the air we breathe. But what if that waste could become more than just pollution? In Pakistan, Dr. Waqas Ahmed Khan is transforming discarded plastic into sustainable eco-bricks, and in the process, reshaping how communities think about waste.

This July, Thomas Rabe, Chairman of the John Rabe Communication Center, was granted the Friendship Envoy Award at the second Orchid Awards in Beijing for promoting cultural understanding and friendship between China and Germany. Eighty-eight years ago, his grandfather John Rabe, a German businessman stationed in Nanjing in 1937, managed to shelter and save 250,000 Chinese civilians from atrocities committed by Japanese invading forces during one of the darkest moments in human history, known as the Nanjing Massacre. In this podcast, Thomas Rabe shares with us the Rabe family’s special bonds with China which spans over a century and four generations.

This year marks the 80th anniversary of the victory of the Chinese People's War of Resistance Against Japanese Aggression (1931–1945) and the World Anti-Fascist War. In Nanjing, a city forever etched in history by the horrors of the Nanjing Massacre, memorials and museums stand as solemn reminders of a painful past. Among them is a private museum founded by an ordinary citizen – Wu Xianbin. Through his personal collection and unwavering commitment, Wu has built a space of remembrance, reflection, and resilience.

​For decades, tower crane operator Wang Chao has overcome one challenge after another with innovative solutions—developing a lightening protection system for rocky terrain and establishing a critical 3-meter braking standard to prevent collisions. His exceptional skills and uncompromising commitment to safety has ensured the success of numerous major construction projects, earning him recognition as one of Beijing’s elite “Great Craftsmen”.

Professor Jiao Nianzhi is a pioneering Chinese marine scientist. He developed the revolutionary Microbial Carbon Pump theory, explaining how marine microbes capture and help store carbon dioxide. His work bridges scientific discovery with sustainable development, offering nature-based approaches to climate challenges.

For Egyptian Hany Sobhy Makary Guirguis Hanna, coming to China was totally accidental. But staying here for ten years has definitely been a deliberate choice for him. So, what’s it like when an Egyptian ventures to the Middle Kingdom? And what happens when he tries to follow in the footsteps of his ancestors and grow his trade business in China?

In this podcast, we meet Anyu Agga, an independent fashion designer of Yi ethnicity who has risen to fame from the grassroots of the deep mountains.

Vikash Kumar Singh is an Indian expatriate who currently teaches Hindi, Indian culture, history and literature at Beijing Foreign Studies University. With 18 years of residence in China, Vikash speaks fluent Chinese and is dedicated to fostering Sino-Indian cultural exchanges through teaching and literary translation. In this episode, we delve into Vikash's remarkable journey and insights.

In this episode, we explore the journey of Evandro Menezes de Carvalho, a Brazilian scholar and professor of international law with a deep passion for China studies. Since his first visit to China in 2013, Evandro has immersed himself in research and teaching, building bridges between China and Brazil. In recognition of his unwavering commitment to fostering cross-cultural dialogue, he was awarded the prestigious Chinese Government Friendship Award in 2023.

​For more than three decades, educator Li Xuemei has transformed from a struggling Chinese immigrant to award-winning cultural ambassador through her promotion of Chinese language and culture in Italy. Her innovative educational model and study programs promise to reshape cultural understanding between the East and the West.