“We journalists got the privilege of traveling beyond borders and meeting people face to face, and building connections that can bring our voices together and help dispel misunderstandings,” Chen Yilin, our media ambassador from CGTN, said during the 2026 Belt and Road Journalists Forum.
During her 10,000-kilometer reporting journey across five Central Asian countries, Chen visited a China-Tajikistan highway project that had reduced travel time from six hours to just 1.5 hours. For local residents, the road means more than faster transportation. It brings communities closer together, makes journeys home shorter and helps secure their livelihoods. Through conversations with local workers and villagers, Chen witnessed how infrastructure projects could foster friendship and trust, showing that Belt and Road cooperation is not just about trade and investment, but also about meaningful connections between people.
Source: “Home of Journalists” Facebook