- 88 Myanmar students are pursuing vocational education at Ruili Vocational School in China’s Yunnan Province as part of a growing cross-border educational exchange.
- Students like Luo Bencan and Su Xueni are gaining professional training in fields such as e-commerce and fashion design, while also immersing themselves in Chinese culture.
- The school has expanded cooperation with Myanmar institutions, with 36 new students this year, deepening China-Myanmar educational and cultural ties.
There are a total of 88 Myanmar students studying at Ruili Vocational School in Yunnan Province in southwest China, chasing dreams and skills with cross-border education. Ruili, a border city between China and Myanmar, is one of the major gateways for trade and cultural exchange between the two nations. In recent years, the city has emerged as a rising hot spot for Myanmar citizens to seek studies and job opportunities.
At an e-commerce-themed classroom, Myanmar's 21-year-old Luo Bencan (pinyin) listens carefully to take notes. Fluent in Chinese, he calls the school "the place where my dreams took off". As one of the first Myanmar students to be part of an educational exchange between China and Myanmar, Luo tells us that not only has he received professional training but also deeper insight into Chinese culture.
While he was in China, Luo has engaged himself in different cultural practices from attending a war memorial site on Qingming Festival to observing the Water-Splashing Festival with Chinese and Burmese classmates.
Su Xueni (pinyin), a Yangon student, learns fashion design in Ruili in the hopes of designing clothes. Aside from taking classes, she also gets hands-on training at a nearby garment production park. She aims to integrate Myanmar's traditional weaving tradition with Chinese modern manufacturing techniques to produce high-quality, culturally inspired clothing.
To facilitate international students, Ruili Vocational School has built long-term partnership with Myanmar institutions. The cooperation covers curriculum design, cultural integration, and internship. With 36 new Myanmar students this year, the cross-border education program continues to deepen, enhancing people-to-people exchange and mutual understanding between China and Myanmar.
