Yasser Mejia, an international student from Nicaragua studying in China, has fully immersed himself in the hutong (alley) culture of Beijing, hoping to see greater exchanges between China and Latin America in both trade and culture.
China and Nicaragua resumed diplomatic relations in 2021. Last year, China-Nicaragua ties were elevated to a strategic partnership.
Meanwhile, the people-to-people exchanges between the two countries have grown. Mejia from Nicaragua started studying in China two years ago, and has developed a profound love for hutong, or alleys, in Beijing.
"I really like the hutongs. I like it because hutongs used to be the old alleys in Beijing. Every time I come here, I feel like I'm there all Beijing, to experience the life of the locals, their traditions, their culture in a more unique way. Also the food, takes this chance to try the local food of Beijing. It's all local restaurants, to immerse myself in the local Beijing," he said.
Mejia said that living in a foreign country with a different culture and lifestyle is often a challenge, but he found it relatively easy to adjust to life in Beijing, thanks to his strong foundation in Chinese language, which he had studied before arriving in China.
An economics major, the 22-year-old cares particularly about the China-Nicaragua trade development. China and Nicaragua signed free trade agreements in 2023, and Nicaragua is China's fifth free trade partner in Latin America.
"Now in my country, we can see how the Chinese products have been introduced in the Nicaragua market, and people have really welcome it. Now in Nicaragua, China has become a big partner. I would definitely recommend the beef, the quality coffee we have in Nicaragua," said Mejia.
As this year's Asia-Pacific Economic Cooperation (APEC) meetings will be held in the Latin American country of Peru, Mejia said he expects to see more exchanges between students from China and the region.
"[In the] future we can have Chinese students going to Latin America, more Latin American students coming to China and learn from China. Not only from the culture but also their majors in the science field, like economics fields, engineering. There are so much things that we can learn as Latin Americans here in China," he said.
Nicaraguan student in Beijing hopes for greater China-Latin America exchanges
