BY TERESA MONTEIRO PINTO
Journalist, Rádio Televisão de Cabo Verde (RTC), Cape Verde
Travelling is, above all, an opportunity to question our own perceptions . The distance between what we imagine about a country and what we discover when we arrive often reveals a much more complex reality. China, due to its size, history, and growing international influence, is one of those places that challenges any quick judgment.
For a journalist coming from a small island country like Cabo Verde, arriving in China means experiencing a completely different scale: large cities, impressive infrastructure, technological development, and a society deeply shaped by centuries of cultural heritage. However, beyond the numbers and the remarkable achievements, understanding a country requires looking at its people, their stories, and the way they experience the transformations of their time.
Today, China is one of the most important actors in global governance. Its role goes beyond economic and commercial influence, extending to areas such as innovation, climate change, international cooperation, and sustainable development. The Belt and Road Initiative reflects this ambition to strengthen connections between countries through cooperation, investment, and cultural exchanges.
However, in an increasingly interconnected world, global governance requires more than economic strength. It requires dialogue, mutual respect, and cooperation among different nations and cultures. Both large and small countries have important contributions to make. Major powers can share knowledge, technology, and resources, while smaller states bring valuable experiences, particularly in areas such as resilience, sustainability, and adaptation to global challenges.
As a journalist, one of the greatest lessons is understanding that important stories are not only found in major cities or powerful nations. Every community has something to teach us. China, with its vast territory and long-term vision, demonstrates how planning and innovation can transform societies. Cabo Verde, as a small island nation, demonstrates the importance of creativity, resilience, and adaptation in facing challenges.
My first impressions of China are therefore impressions of contrasts: tradition and modernity, history and the future, a global power and the everyday lives of ordinary people who contribute to building this reality.
In a world where challenges go beyond borders, journalism has a crucial role: bringing people closer, promoting understanding, and telling stories that help build bridges between nations. Learning about other realities is also a way of better understanding our own place in the world.
China is not only a country to observe. It is a country to learn from, to question, and to engage with.
*The views and opinions expressed in the articles are solely those of the individual authors and do not reflect the position of the Secretariat of the Belt and Road Journalist Network.