Chongmoua works at a sericulture farm. [Photo/CNR News]

The story of Kouchang Chongmoua, also known as Zhang Xingyu, who came from Laos to study breeding silkworms and planting mulberries in Suzhou was covered by China National Radio (CNR) News recently.

Breeding silkworms and planting mulberries are a cultural bond between China and Laos.

After graduation in Laos in 2016, Chongmoua worked as a translator at a local sericulture company. At that time, he found farmers encountered problems of breeding silkworms when communicating with them. 

"I once visited China in 2017 to participate in an international training session and realized that the technique of planting mulberries and raising silkworms in China is very advanced." The idea of studying breeding silkworms and planting mulberries in China took root in his mind. He would like to help the farmers solve problems when returning to Laos.

Chongmoua will graduate from Soochow University in June 2023. [Photo/CNR News]

He was enrolled at the School of Basic Medicine and Biological Sciences at Soochow University in 2020 to pursue a Master's degree. His main research field was on curing diseased silkworms. He chose some commonly found diseases, isolated four types of pathogenic bacteria, and conducted experiments over and again based on one type. Now he has found the medicine and methods for treating the disease. "My teachers and senior schoolmates have offered much help to me, and my Chinese has improved a lot."

According to Zhu Lyuhua, deputy director of the International Cooperation and Exchange Department of Soochow University, Soochow University has admitted a large number of students from the countries along the Belt and Road in the past decade. Since its inception, Lao Soochow University has cultivated over 200 students with academic qualifications and more than 3,000 postgraduate students majoring in Chinese.

Currently, Chongmoua is busy preparing for the doctoral program and he will continue his PhD study in China. He plans to go home by the China-Laos Railway next year. "The China-Laos Railway has opened and it will provide more opportunities for the development of Laos. I am particularly keen to have a try of the China-Laos train."

In terms of the Belt and Road Initiative, Chongmoua has his anticipation. "I wish that the Belt and Road can connect Laos and China in terms of economic and cultural exchanges. In the future, I will bring back the technologies I learned in China to Laos."