Hangzhou, China — For Sobirov Mustakim, a graduate student at Zhejiang Sci-Tech University, the past decade in China has been a journey blending tea, poetry, and entrepreneurial ambition. Arriving from Tajikistan 10 years ago, he’s since embraced Chinese culture while building a business that literally bridges continents. 🚀
\"I fell in love with West Lake’s tranquility and the stories tea leaves tell,\" Sobirov shares, referencing his fascination with China’s tea traditions and classical poetry. But it’s his tech-savvy side that’s turning heads: Using his university’s campus incubator, he launched a cross-border trade platform supporting the Belt and Road Initiative (BRI), aiming to streamline commerce between Asia and beyond. 💼
Why stay another decade? \"China’s innovation ecosystem is unmatched,\" he says, citing opportunities for young entrepreneurs. His platform, developed alongside classmates, already connects suppliers in Central Asia with buyers across BRI member countries. 📈
From sipping Longjing tea to coding late nights, Sobirov’s story mirrors the dreams of many international students in China — where culture meets opportunity. 🌸 Got a passion project? His advice: \"Find your ‘West Lake’ — that place or idea that keeps you curious.\"
