Li Lin, director general of the Fujian Provincial Foreign Affairs Office, holds talks with international students. [Photo provided to chinadaily.com.cn]

Twenty international students from 14 countries concluded a seven-day study tour of Fujian province on April 29, visiting industrial hubs and cultural sites to observe the region's achievements in poverty alleviation, industrial development, economic vitality, and Maritime Silk Road culture.

The tour, titled "Discover Fujian: A Study Tour for International Students from Belt and Road Countries", gathered students from countries involved in the Belt and Road Initiative, including Bangladesh, Egypt, and Ghana, who traveled to Fuzhou, Ningde, Sanming, Quanzhou, and Xiamen.

Li Lin, director general of the Fujian Provincial Foreign Affairs Office, met with the group during their stay in Fuzhou and introduced the province's achievements in economic and social development. He said that Fujian has established 137 sister-city relationships with 53 countries and encouraged the participants to explore Fujian firsthand.

In Ningde, students visited Contemporary Amperex Technology (CATL) and an exhibition on poverty alleviation. In Sanming, they toured the 1958 Industrial Memory Museum, gaining insights into the legacy and transformation of the city's former industrial base.

International students learn about Xiamen's ecological conservation efforts at Xiatanwei Mangrove Park. [Photo provided to chinadaily.com.cn]

The tour concluded in Xiamen, where students planted mangroves at Xiatanwei Mangrove Park and visited Gulangyu Island, a UNESCO World Heritage site.