By Yue Shan, Liu Jia, Guo Fengxiang, Zhang Yinyu
23岁的乔力来自非洲贝宁，今年不仅在中南大学顺利毕业，还获得“2024届优秀国际学生”的称号。毕业后，在湖南自贸试验区长沙片区国际青年创业港(以下简称“国际青年创业港”)的帮助下，他注册成立了自己的公司，成功拿到了长沙2024年首张创业签证，让他可以畅通往来中非，把来自湖南的假发、五金、农业机械产品等出口到西非各国，再将非洲的美食和好物带回中国。在长沙，他离自己的事业梦越来越近了。
Qiao Li, 23, from Benin, Africa, graduated from Central South University this year, and was rewarded the "Outstanding International Student of 2024"by the China’s top-level university. After graduation, with the help of the Changsha International Youth Entrepreneurship Port (hereinafter referred to as the International Youth Entrepreneurship Port) in Hunan Free Trade Zone, he immediately registered his own company and successfully acquired the first 2024 entrepreneurial visa in Changsha, which enables him to travel freely between China and Africa, exporting wigs, hardware products, agricultural machinery products from Hunan to West African countries, and importing African delicacies to China. In Changsha, all his dreams are becoming true.
为什么来到长沙？
Why come to Changsha?
“当时在浙江某大学学汉语时候，我的老师发现我的学习能力很强，而且成绩也不错，她是湖南人，她推荐我去长沙读大学。我得知我的各方面都符合中南大学招录留学生的条件后，开始去了解长沙，我发现这座城市与非洲的关系源远流长，一个不靠海的城市还能作为中非贸易‘领头羊’就很神奇。作为非洲贝宁人的我，觉得来这个城市学习和工作就是最好的打算，在这能得到很多机会。”
“When I was studying Chinese in a university in Zhejiang Province, my teacher found that I had a strong learning ability and scored well. She is from Hunan and suggested a college in Changsha. When I learned that I met the requirements for admission to CSU, I began to know about everything in Changsha. I found that the city has a long-standing relationship with Africa. It is amazing that a city can be a leader in China-Africa trading without any geographical advantage. As an Beninese, I feel that studying and working in this city is the best choice as there are abundant opportunities."
在长沙生活怎么样？
How is life in Changsha?
“我在长沙生活四年了，我喜欢热情的长沙人，也喜欢长沙的美食和生活节奏。很感谢长沙一直给我提供机会，尤其是我今年大学毕业之后，国际青年创业港帮助我注册了公司，还拿到了创业签，我都不用先回非洲办理所有的手续再回来，直接在长沙就完成了所有的手续，这个政策给我们在长沙创业的外国人带来了很多便利。”
“I have been living in Changsha for four years. I like the passionate people here, as well as the food and the pace of life. I am very grateful to Changsha for always providing me with opportunities, especially the International Youth Entrepreneurship Port who helped me with the registration and entrepreneurial visa after my graduation. I don’t have to go back to Africa for all the formalities because all can be finished in Changsha. This makes it very convenient for us foreigners to start a business here.”
“最近，我正忙着去湘潭、岳阳等地和工厂谈合作，然后回非洲见客户，拿一些订单回长沙。”
"Recently, I am busy in seeking cooperation with factories in Xiangtan, Yueyang and other places. In a few days, I will go back to Africa to bring some orders to Changsha."
最喜欢长沙哪些地方？
What are the favorite places in Changsha?
“我很喜欢后湖，这应该是我在长沙去过最多的地方，它很美，特别是在夏天的晚上，待在那里很舒服，既安静又热闹，我在读书时，每周至少要去三次，和朋友散散步、聊聊天。我也喜欢去梅溪湖看音乐喷泉，喜欢晚上去五一广场感受热闹的氛围，吃湘菜、喝茶颜悦色。隆平水稻博物馆、李自健美术馆、岳麓山都是我打卡的地方，长沙有太多我喜欢去的地方了。”
“The Hou Lake is my favourite and it should be my most-visit place in Changsha. It is very adorable, especially in the summer night. It is comfortable and tranquil and I visited at least two to three times per week when I was in college, walking and chatting with friends there. I also like to go to Meixi Lake to appreciate the music fountain, to go to the May Day Square at night to sink myself into the lively atmosphere, enjoying the local food and drink. Additionally, Longping Rice Museum, Li Zijian Art Museum and Yuelu Mountain are all the places I like to tick off. To be honest, there are so many places I like to visit in Changsha.”
策划 | 姜国 郑文新
统筹 | 岳珊 刘佳
文字 | 郭凤湘 岳珊
摄影 | 张寅宇
美编 | 曾璐
