Yinchuan, November 16th (Xinhua) — After the mid-term exam, Su Qizhan had a rare and leisurely afternoon. She discussed with her junior sister Su Ziwei, who is also from Thailand, to rehearse a traditional Thai dance and showcase it to everyone at the school’s New Year’s Eve party.
Su Qizan, a 20-year-old from Utetani in northern Thailand, was studying in a boarding high school in her hometown when the teacher who taught Chinese elective courses gave her this name, which symbolizes beauty.
My teacher has been studying in China for many years. He often tells us about China’s rapid development, openness and inclusiveness, and encourages us to visit China if we have the opportunity, “Su Qizhan said. Senior students studying in China also take advantage of their holidays to return to the school and exchange ideas with everyone, sharing their experiences and feelings about studying abroad in China.” Their stories have made me more longing for China, and I hope that one day I can also study in China.
In September 2023, Su Qizhan, who had completed her high school studies, set foot on the land of China for the first time – she came to Yinchuan, Ningxia, located in northwest China as she wished, and began a one-year language course at Ningxia University.
Compared to her hometown, the climate here is a bit dry, with cold winters. I put on a down jacket for the first time and got used to eating hand pulled lamb, “Su Qizhan said with a smile. The fresh experience she had just arrived at became her first lesson in exploring China, and the sincerity and friendliness of her teachers and classmates helped her quickly integrate into the new environment.
Su Qizhan cherishes the opportunity to study abroad in China every day, waking up at 5 o’clock and going to bed at 11 o’clock, attending classes, self-study, and practicing listening, speaking, reading, and writing hard. She arranges her study life to the fullest. Last year, she successfully passed the Chinese Proficiency Test Band 4 and became an undergraduate student majoring in Chinese Language and Literature at Ningxia University in 2024.
More and more people want to study abroad in China, and I am lucky, so I cherish time every day and want to learn more and improve my Chinese faster, “said Su Qizhan. The school’s curriculum is rich and interesting, and my learning and life are fulfilling and happy. I really enjoy courses such as China Overview, Modern Chinese, Film and Television Appreciation, and Experience of Excellent Traditional Chinese Culture. I also learn Chinese by watching movies and watching short videos. My favorite movie to watch is’ Ne Zha: The Demonic Children Roar in the Sea ‘
China is very big, beautiful, and safe. Studying in China is a happy thing, and I want to explore and understand China as much as possible during my study abroad period, “she said.
For many years, Ningxia and Thailand have maintained a good cooperative relationship. Thai politicians have visited Ningxia multiple times to promote cooperation between Thailand and Ningxia in various fields such as higher education, economy, and trade. In 2024, the import and export volume of Ningxia to Thailand increased by 6.8% year-on-year, of which the import volume increased by 104.13% year-on-year. Thailand has established a total of 10 foreign-invested enterprises in Ningxia, mainly engaged in the research and development and sales of goji berry products, beef and mutton processing, chemical raw material production, feed processing and other fields. There are also Ningxia enterprises engaged in import and export, natural gas technology promotion and other businesses in Thailand. Thailand has been one of the main destinations for outbound tourism from Ningxia for many years.
In terms of educational cooperation, Ningxia University, Ningxia Medical University, and Northern Nationalities University have established intercollegiate cooperative relationships with Chiang Mai University to jointly run schools, and have steadily implemented short-term exchanges and scholarship programs. A mechanism for teacher-student exchange has been established between some universities in Ningxia and universities such as Thai Chamber of Commerce University and Siam University.
Thailand and China are good friends. In Thailand, many schools offer Chinese courses, and ‘learning Chinese and going to China’ is a trend among young Thai people. I hope that more Thai students will come to China in the future to inherit the friendship between the two countries. “Su Qizhan said that after completing her undergraduate studies, she wants to continue studying for a master’s degree in China.” After graduation, I will also work in using Chinese and related to exchanges between China and Thailand, and contribute my own strength to the friendly exchanges between the two countries.