In recent years, many Chinese enterprises have explored the overseas market and completed magnificent projects along the Belt and Road. Egypt’s Central Business District (CBD) project in its new administrative capital, which is being constructed by China State Construction Engineering Corporation (CSCEC), will become a new architectural landmark in Africa. Many Egyptian employees of the company have contributed to the construction of their country. Hanan, who joined CSCEC 31 years ago, is one of them.

She joined the company when she was 22, and has witnessed every step of CSCEC’s effort in exploring the Egyptian market.

In 1987, Hanan graduated from the Faculty of Arts of Cairo University. Following advice from her family, she started her career at the management department of the company’s Egyptian branch. Working in the Chinese company helped Hanan realize her long-cherished dream of learning about the outside world. She said, “I learned when I was in school that the Chinese people were hardworking and warm-hearted. Being able to work for the Chinese company would be a brand-new experience for me, and I finally seized the opportunity.”

Due to cultural differences, when she started out at the company, Hanan experienced many difficulties in understanding a different way of thinking and coping with the language barrier; however, with the help of her Chinese colleagues, Hanan tackled these problems with ease, and her friendship with her Chinese peers helped to boost her development as a person as well as a mentally strong professional. Hanan recalled, “In the beginning, I felt that the work at CSCEC was very complicated. It was the continuing encouragement from my Chinese friends that gave me the motivation to work hard until this day.”

From 6th of October City, Sadat City, Cairo International Convention & Exhibition Center to the new administrative capital’s CBD, Hanan has been with the company as it tackled the key projects in Egypt. Hanan said she is lucky that the time working in the Chinese company and spent with the Chinese colleagues allowed her to grow rapidly.

Hanan said she is honored to be personally involved in these China-Egypt cooperation projects, and also proud to make her contribution to the Chinese company in Egypt. Some Egyptian friends of her age were married early and have ever since become housewives. Yet she has her own ideals in life. “In the days working with CSCEC, I continued to gain experience, learn skills and make improvements along the way. If I did not come to work in the Chinese company, I might end up doing nothing at home, ” Hanan said.

After graduation, Hanan resolutely chose the Chinese company to start her career, a path rarely taken by the locals at the time. Today, the multi-level and wide-ranging cooperation between China and Egypt under the Belt and Road Initiative has provided a large number of job opportunities in Egypt. According to Hanan, even the most traditional Arab women in Egypt have begun to feel that their social identities have undergone an unfelt transition together with the increasingly diversified local employment trends. They will take the initiative to choose to work outdoors and take on more social responsibilities. She said, “Egyptian women’s career choices have now completely changed. They have become more positive and confident, started to make their names heard in all aspects of society, and played an increasingly important role in their families – a clear indicator of social progress.”

When talking about the future of China-Egypt cooperation, the Egyptian veteran employee of CSCEC expressed a higher level of expectation. Hanan said that the new administrative capital's CBD project, which includes building the tallest building in Africa, is the pride of the Egyptian people and will become another monument attesting the long-lasting friendship between the two countries. She said, “China-Egypt cooperation has broad prospects at the economic, cultural, and social levels. China's support for the development of Egypt contributes to the prosperity of our country. The Belt and Road Initiative is ambitious and magnificent, I hope that China and Egypt will walk hand-in-hand on the road of cooperation.”

"This was the first job I took in my life, and I think it will be the last," Hanan added with a smile.