International students visit Shanghai Waigaoqiao Free Trade Zone Group, a leader in Pudong New Area's development and opening-up. [Photo/WeChat account: SHU-ISU]

A group of international students from Shanghai University showed confidence in the development of Shanghai's Pudong New Area and the country as a whole during a visit to the Shanghai Waigaoqiao Free Trade Zone on Dec 4.

The international students were volunteers at the third China International Import Expo held in Shanghai from Nov 5 to 10, during which time they provided reception, guidance, interpretation, and consultation services for the exhibition area of Shanghai Waigaoqiao Free Trade Zone Group.

To thank them for their volunteer services and Shanghai University for its support, Waigaoqiao FTZ Group honored them with awards and invited them to visit the zone and learn more about its local development and culture.

The students visited an exhibition marking the 30th anniversary of the development and opening-up of Pudong New Area and learned about the area's past, present, and future.

They also admired local crafts and delicacies at an intangible cultural heritage museum and some said it "smelled like home" at an exhibition of goods and cultures of counties involved in the Belt and Road Initiative.

"I am amazed at the openness, progress, and inclusiveness of the area experiencing the most rapid economic development in China," said an international student after the visit.

An international student from Mauritania said the success of the third CIIE amid the COVID-19 pandemic has demonstrated China's strength.

"China is an inclusive and open country and I believe the development of Pudong will bring more cooperation and win-win opportunities to the world," said a Mexican doctoral student.

A Yemeni student said he was also glad to know that there are many job opportunities and favorable employment policies for foreigners in the Waigaoqiao FTZ, the first bonded area in China and a leader in Pudong New Area’s opening-up.

This year, a total of 15 international students at Shanghai University from 11 different countries volunteered at the third CIIE.

Shanghai University and the Waigaoqiao FTZ Group also agreed to further cooperate in providing practice, internship, and job opportunities to international students.