The deepening bond between China and Peru has opened doors for countless individuals, including many Peruvians who have sought opportunities in the dynamic Chinese market
Christian Virrueta, a Peruvian engineer, shared his unexpected journey to China, revealing the surprising factors that drew him to the bustling metropolis
"Actually, during my last year in my university in Spain, I did an exchange program here in China. So it was in Hangzhou city, Zhejiang University. I just love the mix of nature and development like technology. I've never seen something like that," said Virrueta.
Since early 2022, Virrueta has been making a significant impact as a field service engineer at BGI Genomics, traveling the world to support clients and advance the field of life sciences.
"I have been involved in collaborative bioscience projects, including my recent work with BGI Genomics in the new clinical laboratory in Uruguay, Latin America. This facility provides preventive medicine and early disease diagnosis, including services such as non-invasive prenatal genetic testing and early screening for colorectal cancer," he said.
Virrueta noted that the collaboration between China and Peru in bioscience has intensified over the years, resulting in mutual benefits derived from the exchange of resources, expertise, and technology.
"China's leadership in biotechnology can produce unique and abundant biodiversity, making this a powerful partnership, especially in advancing healthcare and early disease detection. We are seeing increased collaboration that allows both countries to tackle public health challenges through cutting edge, research, technology, and innovation," said Virrueta.
He said that both Lima and Shenzhen serve as hubs of innovation and opportunity, where individuals consistently strive for progress, embrace change, and welcome fresh ideas. The engineer added that the similar blend of natural charm and urban vitality makes both cities feel familiar despite their geographical distance.
Peruvian engineer drawn to Shenzhen's tech boom
The World Conference of Classics, held in Beijing from Wednesday till Friday, featured a series of captivating exhibitions and cultural tours, allowing participants from around the globe to experience the allure of profound Chinese culture.
Themed "Classical Civilizations and the Modern World," the conference attracted over 600 participants, comprising individuals from relevant departments and institutions of China and Greece, as well as experts and scholars from across the globe.
On the sidelines of the event, special exhibitions on archaeology, the origin of the Chinese civilization, and achievements in classical studies took center stage in the Chinese capital.
"I love Su Shi's Chibifu (The First Visit to the Red Cliff), for example. I love Du Fu's poetry. When you read the Qiuxingbashou (eight poems about autumn), every time you read it, you discover something new. It will always say something new to a new reader or even to the same reader who reads it again. And this is my experience with Chinese poetry," said Martin Kern, a professor in East Asian Studies at Princeton University.
Ahead of the conference, experts, scholars and cultural figures from over 30 countries and regions have visited many museums in the provinces of Henan, Sichuan and Shandong.
Foreign classical scholars said the museum tours have afforded them an opportunity to learn more about Chinese culture.
"China is really great. I love China. Why? Because I love the thoughts and classic culture in China. This is my specialty," said Vladimir Malyavin, a professor of regional studies at the Higher School of Economics.
"It is very good that people coming here can understand about archeological work, about the type of work, results received; the meaning of that, because it's very important for people to understand that we have not only the future before us, but we had a great, great past. Without understanding the past, we don't understand the future," said Andrzej Niewinski, a professor at the University of Warsaw.
"I think the basic meaning is to (promote) mutual understanding, exchange cultural views, to know from a different point of view these classical traditions, and starting right now to understand each other better," said Filippo Costantini, an assistant professor in Chinese Studies at the University of Cagliari in Italy.
Chinese culture captivates global scholars at World Conference of Classics
