Joseph Mendo, a doctorate at the School of International Relations of Peking University, coming from Cameroon, and also president of the China Africa Youth Federation says since coming to China in January 2015, he now has a deeper understanding of China.

“If you want to understand a country or a society, you have to understand people, including the spirit of the place.” says Mendo.

I have gone to a total of 30 grassroots villages. I went to Xing County, Luliang City, and Shanxi Province, and learned about China’s poverty alleviation. I and other students from Peking University, have also shared what we have experienced in China with General Secretary Xi Jinping.

“You make the impossible possible”, which is what I saw in Ningxia, adds Mendo. Because Ningxia also has arid areas, and it relies on grapes for rural revitalization.