Creating lasting partnerships for the future development of Africa

Reagan Mehari, Eritrea/里根·梅哈里，厄立特里亚

My name is Reagan Mehari, a proud Eritrean national. Eritrea is a small country in the horn of Africa bordering Ethiopia, Djibouti, and the Red Sea. Its major mineral resources include natural gas, gold, copper, oil, zinc, and potash. Almost 70% of the country is covered by the greenstone belt of Eritrea, which has deposits of precious metals and massive volcanic sulfide.

我叫里根·梅哈里，自豪的厄立特里亚人。厄立特里亚是非洲东北部的一个小国，与埃塞俄比亚、吉布提接壤，东临红海。其主要矿产资源包括天然气、黄金、铜、石油、锌和钾盐。厄立特里亚的绿岩带覆盖了全国近70%的地区，该地区有贵金属矿床和大量火山硫化物。

I believe China has been a strong model and mentor for Eritrea, resulting in the two countries having  very good cooperations in various sectors, from trade to skills training. The Eritrean government has sent more than 1,100 people to multiple training sessions and research projects in China. More than 400 Eritrean students have already studied in China with scholarships from the Chinese government. Many young Eritreans study here and return to our country to contribute to the development of our nation. Like many other Eritreans in China, in the course of my study in China, have been able to continuously expand on my personal growth and participate in many learning activities that enhance my professional skills.

我认为，中国一直是厄立特里亚强有力的榜样和良师益友，两国在贸易和技能培训等各个领域都建立了很好的合作关系。厄立特里亚政府已派遣1100多人来中国参加多个培训课程和研究项目。已有400多名厄立特里亚学生利用中国政府的奖学金在中国学习。许多厄立特里亚年轻人在这里学习，返回我国后为我国的发展作出贡献。就像许多其他在中国的厄立特里亚人一样，我在中国的学习过程中不断扩大视野，得到不断成长，我参加许多学习活动，提高我的专业技能。

I came to Beijing during the summer of 2006 when I traveled to Beijing to pursue my undergraduate degree in business at the Beijing Language and Culture University. However, the primary reason for coming to Beijing was to help my father run our family business. My father first came to Beijing in the summer of 2003 to learn more about the Chinese business sector, as he is a successful businessman. He then fell in love with the culture and later established our first business in China, Kiflem International Ltd, founded in 2005 with the guidance of his Chinese business partners.  Kiflem International Ltd is a global business development and investment promotion company that operates as an international procurement agency, trade and business consulting for over 70% of African countries visiting China and has vast networks of Chinese manufacturing concessions seeking business abroad. Our company continues to serve as a bridge between China and Africa and has received recognition from both Chinese and African governments for our continuous work. A year later, after my father founded Kiflem, he then requested that I come to Beijing to study and run the family business. It was an incredible opportunity to learn about this country and work closely with my dad to represent African businesses abroad.

With my LensAfrik business partner, 2016/和我的LensAfrik商业伙伴，2016年

我是2006年夏天来到北京的，在北京语言大学攻读商业学士学位。不过，我来北京的主要原因是帮助我父亲经营我们的家族企业。2003年夏天，我父亲第一次来到北京，是为了更多地了解中国的商业领域，因为他是一个成功的商人。随后，他爱上了中国文化，并在他的中国商业伙伴的指导下，于2005年建立了我们在中国的第一家公司——KIFLEM国际有限公司。KIFLEM国际有限公司是一家全球商业发展和投资促进公司，为70%以上访问中国的非洲国家提供国际采购代理、贸易和商业咨询服务，拥有庞大的中国制造特许权网络，寻求海外业务。我们的公司继续作为中非之间的桥梁，并因我们的持续工作得到了中国和非洲国家政府的认可。一年后，在我父亲创立KIFLEM国际有限公司后，他要求我来北京学习并经营家族企业。这是一个非常好的机会，让我来了解中国，并与我父亲密切合作，在国外代表非洲企业。

Three years later, due to my high grades, I transitioned to the United States of America to complete my studies in Torrance, California, USA, then later returned to Beijing in 2012 to continue running my family businesses. These businesses focused on trade between my country Eritrea, the African continent, and China's SMEs, in addition to promoting China-Africa relations as a wholly foreign-owned company based in Beijing. In 2009 we partnered with another business partner to create Lensafrik Media International. LensAfrik International is a foremost China-Africa event organizer and media platform owner who has actively participated in promoting the growing relationship between China and Africa. It covers the China-Africa society, business, and personalities engaged in promoting commerce and socio-economic activities. We have been fortunate to host many different African presidents and delegations to China. I have also had the opportunity to lead and facilitate the visit of several China business delegations to Nigeria, Ghana, Zambia, Zimbabwe, Uganda, Tanzania, and other African countries. 

Receiving certificate of outstanding service in China from Eritrean Ambassador to China, H.E. Ambassador Tseggai Tesfazion/收到前厄立特里亚驻华大使,泽盖·特斯法齐翁阁下颁发的在华杰出服务证书

三年后，因为学习成绩好，我转学到美国，在美国加利福尼亚州的托伦斯完成了学业。2012年，我回到北京，继续经营家族企业。这些企业积极促进中非关系，侧重于厄立特里亚、非洲大陆和中国中小企业之间的贸易。我们的公司是设在北京的外商独资企业，2009年，我们和其他合作伙伴成立了LensAfrik国际媒体公司。LensAfrik国际媒体公司是中非活动的重要组织者和媒体平台所有者。公司积极参与促进中非关系的发展，服务于中非社会、企业和从事商业以及其他社会经济活动的人士。我们有幸接待过许多非洲国家的总统和代表团访问中国，我还曾有机会协助多个中国商务代表团访问尼日利亚、加纳、赞比亚、津巴布韦、乌干达、坦桑尼亚等非洲国家。

In November 2021, Eritrea became the 50th African country to sign a memorandum of understanding to join China's Belt and Road initiative. The Chinese government provided Eritrea help to boost socio-economic growth and unleash their general development potential. Eritrea’s BRI participation will play a critical role in improving the country's industrialization and increasing its connectivity to the rest of the world. This has led me to ask myself how I can be a more valuable contributor to Eritrea-China relations.

2021年11月，厄立特里亚成为第50个签署加入中国“一带一路”倡议谅解备忘录的非洲国家。中国政府向厄立特里亚提供帮助，以促进厄立特里亚社会经济增长，激发发展的潜力，厄立特里亚参与“一带一路”将在改善该国工业化和增加其与世界其他地区的连通性方面发挥关键作用。这让我思考如何为厄中关系做出更有价值的贡献。

Doing business in China as an African national is very interesting indeed. It opens the door to many conversations about culture, customs, international development, green energy, etc. Thus far, it has been very convenient for me to develop business relationships here due to the passion my business partners have to further develop China-Africa relations. It makes me look forward to the future.

Success business meetings with business partners/与商业伙伴成功的商业会议

作为非洲国民在中国做生意确实很有趣。它为人们开启了许多关于文化、风俗、国际发展、绿色能源等的对话。到目前为止，由于我的商业伙伴对进一步发展中非关系的热情，我在这里发展业务关系非常便利。使我对未来充满更多的期待。

I want to thank China, as  I have learned a lot in China.  The achievements of the Chinese government in serving their people are beyond imagination. May we continue to work towards a greener future together.

我要感谢中国，我在中国学到很多的东西，中国政府为人民服务的成就非常巨大，这是超乎想象的。愿我们继续共同努力，创造更加绿色的未来。

审校：张红霞  

英文审校：Dahlia A. Ducreay

编辑：张一博

策划：Reagan Mehari

指导：季昌仁

监制：杨东平   徐志强   蒋   涛