From a member of a Bahamian delegation seeking business opportunities at the Canton Fair in 2006 to a participant in the 2025 Belt and Road International Youth Talent Training Program hosted by the Ministry of Commerce (MOFCOM) Training Base for International Business Officials (Shanghai) at Shanghai Business School (SBS), Anthony's two trips to China, spanning two decades, have witnessed the transformative journey of a developing nation. His personal experience, as an official at the Bahamas Information Services Center, serves as a timeline connecting China's remarkable progress in environmental governance, economic development, and cultural exchange, allowing the seeds of foreign aid training to take root and flourish through intercultural dialogue.
I. From Smog to Clear Skies: A Temporal Response in Ecological Governance
"Twenty years ago, you couldn't see the sky; there was only an impenetrable black fog." Anthony's initial impression of China in 2006 reflects the hallmarks of early industrial development. At that time, he traveled through factories in Guangzhou and Shanghai, witnessing the environmental impact of traditional manufacturing and even worrying about the effects of air quality on his health during his travels. However, upon arriving at hotel in Shanghai in April 2025, the moment he looked up, he saw the clear blue sky, "the surprise and relief were indescribable”.
Anthony specifically mentioned that China's manufacturing industry has shed its "high energy consumption" label. The integration of artificial intelligence and green technologies has transformed factories he visited in the past, such as Yekalon Group, from "pollution sources" into "smart factories". "Their current directors were sales representatives 20 years ago; this growth trajectory is a microcosm of China's development."
II. From the Canton Fair to Free Trade Zones: The Upgraded Code of Economic Development
At the 2006 Canton Fair, Anthony with more than 20 Bahamian colleagues searched for various goods, from building materials to automobiles. At that time, Chinese companies were still primarily in the "manufacturing and OEM" stage. Returning to the same location in 2025, he saw "Yekalon Group grow from a small booth exhibitor into a multinational corporation" in the Shanghai Pilot Free Trade Zone. Behind this transformation lies China's leap from "world factory" to "innovation powerhouse".
What impressed him even more was the evolution of China's development philosophy. The "land grab" development was prevalent across China in 2006 has been replaced by a "technology park + incubator" ecosystem in 2025. During a visit to Shanghai Zhangjiang Science City, he was amazed by "the closed-loop innovation formed by universities, enterprises, and R&D institutions, with young engineers discussing how to use digital technologies to transform the tourism industry in the Bahamas". This "innovation-driven + open cooperation" model is the core experience he recommends the Bahamian government to consider adopting.
III. From Handshakes to Partnerships: The Evolution of Cultural Ties
"In 2006, children curiously touched our skin, saying 'You're so beautiful' in Mandarin. At that time, China had a sense of novelty towards multiculturalism." Anthony recalls the cultural shock of 20 years ago, contrasting the rare sight of Kentucky Fried Chicken with markets selling live snakes. On the Bund in Shanghai in 2025, witnessing tourists of different ethnicities taking photos together under the Lujiazui light show, he felt a "progression from curiosity to inclusiveness."
As a participant in the training program, Anthony discussed with Chinese experts how human resource management could increase the added value of the Bahamian fishing industry and learned about how the sharing economy model could revitalize island tourism during field trips. "China not only showcases its development achievements but also shares the methodology of 'how to develop'," he noted. He specifically mentioned that the development philosophy of "leaving no one behind" in the training program aligns perfectly with the Bahamas' pursuit of inclusive growth. "This is the deep value of foreign aid training—not exporting models, but stimulating endogenous momentum."
Before leaving, Anthony wrote in his notebook: "In 2006, China showed me the possibilities; in 2025, China taught me how to turn possibilities into reality." As he said at the training program's graduation ceremony: "The answer that China has given in 20 years is not only a miracle of development but also an invitation to move forward together."
Written by: Zhou Dejiang
Photograph by: Liang Bo
Reviewed by: Chen Wei
