Cabrel Domche speaks during an interview with Xinhua, in Yaounde, capital of Cameroon, Feb. 13, 2025. (Xinhua/Kepseu)
by Arison Tamfu, Wang Ze
YAOUNDE, Feb. 28 (Xinhua) -- Cabrel Domche was just 16 when he won the Chinese Bridge competition for middle school students at the Confucius Institute at the University of Yaounde II in Cameroon.
The competition is a global event where non-Chinese students demonstrate their proficiency in the Chinese language and showcase their knowledge of Chinese culture.
Thanks to a Confucius Institute scholarship, Domche moved to China in 2017 to pursue his university studies -- a journey that, he said, has been both eye-opening and transformative.
For more than six years, Domche has lived and studied in China, immersing himself in a culture that turned out to be far different from his childhood perceptions. Before arriving, the 23-year-old was an avid viewer of Chinese kung fu films and assumed that all Chinese people practiced martial arts.
"Once in China, my classmates were Chinese, and none of them knew kung fu," he recalled with a chuckle. "I was surprised."
Beyond martial arts, Domche discovered a rapidly modernizing country, one that has transformed itself through technological innovation, infrastructure development, and a commitment to common prosperity.
"China was once quite similar to my home country, Cameroon, but over the years, it has worked tirelessly to modernize," he said.
Technology, he noted, plays a central role in China's modernization. He cited DeepSeek, a recently launched Chinese artificial intelligence application, as a striking example of the country's technological progress.
"We are talking about artificial intelligence, self-driving cars. This is a country that firmly believes in technology," said Domche, who now works for a Chinese telecom company in Beijing. "They know that to prosper, they must invest heavily in innovation."
Among the developments that fascinated him most was Beijing's infrastructure, particularly its extensive subway system and network of roads and highways.
For Domche, China's modernization is not just about economic growth -- it represents a unique development model that has transformed the country while offering valuable insights and opportunities for other nations, especially in the Global South.
"China was once primarily an agricultural country," he said. "But it understood that in order to rise, it had to open up, export its best products, and engage with the world. That is exactly what it has done."
Another aspect of China that impressed Domche was its people's growing curiosity about the world.
"Every day, Chinese people are learning and opening up," he said. "It is not just about the economy. More young Chinese are studying foreign languages and cultures. The average English proficiency in China is improving every day."
He recalled meeting a Chinese student learning Hausa, a widely spoken language in Africa. "That really amazed me," he said. "It shows how eager they are to communicate with the world."
Domche also witnessed China's remarkable environmental transformation.
"China has become a place where people want to live, work, and visit," he said. "They have invested heavily in tree planting. The air quality in Beijing has improved."
He pointed to targeted policies such as rural revitalization, which have helped balance rapid urbanization with sustainable rural development.
"Southwest China's Guizhou Province, for example, was one of the country's poorest regions," he noted. "But through massive investments in agriculture and new technologies like e-commerce, life there has been completely transformed."
Despite its rapid progress, Domche admires how China has retained its rich cultural heritage.
"China is modernizing while still preserving its traditions," he said. A visit to Tongchuan, a city in northwest China's Shaanxi Province known for its ceramics, left a deep impression on him.
"I was moved by how much respect people have for artisans and their craft. The protection of Feiyi (intangible cultural heritage) is a testament to China's appreciation for its own history," he said.
This, he believes, offers a model for other developing nations seeking to modernize without losing their cultural identity.
Domche attributes much of China's success to its governance model. He said the country has demonstrated an ability to make efficient decisions that prioritize national interests.
"Modernization is about how people feel," he said. "If my people have access to good healthcare, infrastructure, clean water, and stable electricity, then that, for me, is true modernization."
He also praised China's approach to international relations.
"What makes China's modernization unique is that it respects global partnerships," he said. "China does not need to exploit or hurt others to grow. It believes in discussion, cooperation, and mutual benefit."
For Domche, China's rise is not just a success story -- it is an inspiration. And as he continues his career in the country that once seemed so distant, he hopes to bring some of the lessons he has learned back home to Cameroon. ■
