Ammar's Silk Road dream
- By staff reporter Li Ying
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E-mail China Today, March 13, 2017
Disseminating Silk Road Culture
Ammar is busy every day. He is CEO of the Silk Road Culture Club under Yiwu Global Merchants' Home, vice-chairman of the local Yemen Chamber of Commerce, a guest professor at Yiwu Industrial & Commercial College and also the first foreign member of Yiwu Ballad Singers Association.
No matter what titles he bears, Ammar never forgets about his dream – that of building a bridge of friendship between Yiwu and his native country, promoting economic and cultural exchanges. "I wish to be an envoy for the Silk Road Economic Belt and the 21st Century Maritime Silk Road," he declared. "The 'Silk Road dream' took root in my heart long ago." According to Ammar, Yemen played an essential role on the ancient trade route due to its strategic location on the corridor linking East and West.
"My Silk Road Dream" was the title of the speech Ammar presented at the Chinese Bridge competition. Today, his dream has come true as the Belt and Road Initiative constantly generates opportunities for bilateral cooperation between China and Yemen and for Yemen's economic development.
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Some of the members of the Silk Road Culture Club pose for a picture. |
Ammar and his friends have always been striving to facilitate exchanges between China and Arab countries. They often invite people to trade fairs in Yiwu, to do business while also learning more about China. In addition to this, Ammar proactively takes part in local government and Bureau of Commerce events, where he often puts forward proposals for Yiwu's future development.
A further step along the road to development was taken in 2015 when the Yiwu Global Merchants' Home was founded. Ammar was elected as the CEO of the organization's Silk Road Culture Club which provides a cultural platform for expats in Yiwu. Along with nearly 100 members from 25 different countries and regions, Ammar has become a true envoy of Silk Road culture and the promotion of cultural integration. He has organized several charity events including visits to welfare houses and blood donation drives, as well as supporting road safety and environmentally friendly cycling. The club held celebrations last year to honor the 60th anniversary of the establishment of diplomatic ties between China and Yemen.
As the first and only foreign member of Yiwu Ballad Singers Association, Ammar actively participates in non-profit performances. Every month, he goes to the countryside with the association to perform crosstalk for rural residents. He also hopes to interest more foreigners in Chinese crosstalk and learning the art form.
"I feel an ever-growing responsibility," Ammar confessed. "In addition to being a good businessman, I want to be a kind person. Most importantly, I'm determined to build this bridge to promote Silk Road culture."
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