At a humble street food stall in Luanda, Angola, Yang Xin sat sipping local drinks with her driver, an Angolan colleague. Despite his modest income, he treated her to a meal and asked sincerely about her well-being.

This simple gesture of kindness became a quiet testament to friendship during Yang's time as an expatriate. It also reflects the broader spirit of many young Chinese working abroad under the Belt and Road Initiative (BRI), building bridges of connection overseas.

Yang, a young woman from Guangzhou, Guangdong province, is a veteran contributor to the initiative. Since arriving in Angola in 2014, she has been involved in clean energy planning, water resources management, infrastructure development, and housing construction. Although her main role is as a translator, her responsibilities extend far beyond language interpretation.

"I handle almost all cross-cultural communication and inter-agency coordination. I've traveled to nearly every province in Angola," she said, highlighting the wide range of skills required for work overseas.

Over the years, Yang has witnessed the evolution of Chinese enterprises in the country. After Angola's infrastructure was devastated by civil war, Chinese firms were among the first to step in to help rebuild. Private companies specialized in civil engineering and housing, while larger, state-owned enterprises handled major projects in water, power, and renewable energy.

More recently, the presence of Chinese businesses in Angola has diversified. Beyond large corporations, individual Chinese-run retail stores have spread across Luanda, and new ventures like milk tea shops and food delivery services have emerged. The local Chinese culinary scene, once dominated by Sichuan restaurants, now features a variety of regional cuisines, including Cantonese dim sum, Fujian snacks, southern-style rice noodles, and northern dumplings.