In 2002, she became the first person from her country to receive China's Friendship Award, the highest honor given to foreigners by the central government

He has a Chinese name, Mao Lyuke, which is famous in ChangshaI hope I can play a role in promoting win-win cooperation between Changsha and Benin, China and Africa," Luc said in an interview

For the past 17 years, he has lived in Changsha, capital of Hunan province in central ChinaThe confederation aims to build a bridge between China and Benin, with the help of the Belt and Road InitiativeHe can cook Hunan dishes, make kung fu tea and even sing Huagu Opera, a Chinese opera originating in Hunan province"If enterprises in China or Benin want to explore the market in the other country, the confederation can help them understand the targeted country's market conditions and regulations"We plan to have another baby next year," Luc said, smiling while talking about his family

Now, besides his art career, he also serves as a representative for the National Confederation of Employers of BeninHe is not a foreigner anymore — more like a Changsha localLetting them work here can make better use of their contribution, and also working in a country can give the foreigners more opportunities to develop a more profound understanding of the country

In the urban area of Hefei, there is a hill called Dashu HillI think China should attract even more foreigners, because from my own experience, having a look at the real China, not just the view from overseas, makes a big difference"China is developing very fast and will play more important roles in the worldThe two countries must promote cooperation in many areas, but how can cooperation go well if our next generation doesn't understand Chinese?" Cho asked

"In the past 21 years, I have witnessed great development achievements in China, and I believe the five years to come after the pending 19th CPC National Congress will bring the country a more prosperous futureAlso, Xi has been very good at choosing the right people to work with him

I was one of the torchbearers for the Beijing Olympic Games torch relay in Hefei in 2008Impressed by how the history teacher had influenced her son, Cho has encouraged Chinese students to go to South KoreaTravelers had to change flights in Shanghai or Nanjing, Jiangsu provinceThe university was the first in the province to have such a course

She also serves as an economic counselor for the Hefei Economic and Technological Development Area, where Hefei University is based, and the Hefei High-Tech Industry Development Zone"My husband and I came to China - to Hefei - to fulfill my elder son's dreamHow to make the other countries believe a rapidly developing China is not a threat is really a tough issueWithin a year, she moved to the city with her husband, Park Nam-gyu, and her sons

I hope it can play a more important role in world peace in the future"In the early years, transportation between Hefei and South Korea was not convenient

In 2002, she became the first person from her country to receive China's Friendship Award, the highest honor given to foreigners by the central government"He wanted to go to the inland provinces, and he had some knowledge of Anhui, so he chose Hefei as his destination," Cho said

Half a year later, Park returned to Hefei University and has been there ever sinceSome of the South Korean companies based in the two zones, the largest in the province, were attracted through Cho's effortsIn the runup to the meeting, China Daily asked a prominent South Korean teacher to talk about her experiences in promoting educational improvements, business cooperation and people-to-people understanding in her native country and her adopted homeAnd she was the first South Korean citizen to gain permanent residency in China in 2006The boy - a great fan of Chinese history who was able to give the names of more than 900 figures in the Chinese classic Romance of Three Kingdoms - was inspired and wanted very much to follow the suggestionPresident Xi puts a lot of emphasis on environmental protection

What's the most memorable experience you've had in China, or related to China? Unforgettable experiences in China are manyIt also extends to boosting Sino-South Korean economic ties and helping the province's poverty-stricken areas

Cho's reputation is not limited to education, howeverWhen we were living in a community about 10 kilometers away, we could seldom see the hill from the window

What's the biggest challenge China faces, and how do you think the country should go about overcoming it? The biggest challenge could come from the changesThe improvement of the people's confidence itself is one of the biggest achievements

In 2010, she was listed as one of the most influential women of the century in HefeiEditor's Note: The Communist Party of China will hold its 19th National Congress on Oct 18More policies should also be made to attract more foreign talent to work in ChinaIt was unforgettable because my family watched the relay in South Korea in 1988 but didn't get the chance to participate

"Now I often accompany Hefei officials to South Korea for business recruitment and students for educational exchanges," Cho said"Nowadays, flights connecting Hefei with Incheon in South Korea are available five days a week, and the situation is improving

Dozens of universities are located here, including the University of Science and Technology of China, one of the country's best," she saidBefore they became major officials, dozens of years should have passed and they should have collected enough experience to tackle seemingly tough problems

In 1998, when she was back in her hometown, Cho delivered a three-hour speech to 82 heads of primary schools, trying to persuade them to offer Chinese coursesA teacher of Korean at Hefei University in Anhui province, Cho has helped to boost the two countries' ties in multiple aspects - not just in education

The couple found employment quickly at Hefei University and began teaching Korean the next yearcn  Cho Sung-hye talks with her students at Hefei University in Anhui provinceThe latest example was a 2016 donation of 20,000 yuan ($3,000) to four high school graduates in Hefei's Feidong county who had been enrolled at universities but were about to give up for lack of moneyWhat is your impression of President Xi Jinping? I think he is a determined man

After finishing middle school and high school studies in the city, Cho's elder son was admitted to Peking University for undergraduate studies, and then returned to Hefei later for his MBA at the University of Science and Technology of ChinaShe has played a prominent role in education, business development and friendship

After about a year in Hefei, Park took a job in the United States and tried to persuade Cho to give up HefeiWhat three words would you use to describe China today? Revitalizing, changing, confident

In 2000, with Cho's help, the Banyang Elementary School - in which she had studied - began teaching Chinese"I told him that we had just started here and we should at least spend five years in the city before judging whether we should move to another place," Cho said

(责任编辑：林冰冰)