Mr. Ruslan Tulenov. (COURTESY PHOTO)

By LONG Yun & ZHONG Jianli

Since August 2019, a young Kazakh named Ruslan Tulenov has served as Senior Supervisor at the Hainan Provincial Bureau of International Economic Development (Hainan IEDB).

He had the opportunity to meet President Xi Jinping in Hainan on April 12, 2022, during the president's visit. This was not the first communication between President Xi and Ruslan. Indeed, Xi once lauded the young man for regularly donating blood to Chinese patients, showing a selfless dedication and goodwill toward the Chinese people.

As a result of Kazakhstan's close link with China, Ruslan was influenced by Chinese culture as a child. He developed a strong interest in Chinese martial arts films, particularly the famous television series Journey to the West. So, he decided to visit China to further study Chinese in 2009, at the age of 16. Though he was from Central Asia, he felt at ease in Hainan's warm and humid climate and found the local people and customs attractive.

Ruslan told Science and Technology Daily that while studying at Hainan University, he donated blood for the first time and discovered he had the uncommon RH -negative blood type. Ruslan then became a regular donor after realizing how rare his blood was following his initial donation. He now donates blood twice a year.

On September 7, 2013, President Xi gave a historic speech at the Nazarbayev University in Kazakhstan. Xi particularly mentioned Ruslan's blood donation and expressed appreciation during his speech. Xi called on the young people of both countries to become future envoys of friendship and contribute youth and energy to the development of China-Kazakhstan's comprehensive strategic partnership.

Ruslan said that these words inspired him to, "Work hard to discover the way and grow into a more mature and responsible person."

After being admitted to the University of Science and Technology Beijing for a master's degree in Management Science and Engineering in 2016, he started to donate blood in Beijing. He has donated over 6,000 milliliters of blood in eight years, about the average volume of blood in an adult.

After his story went viral on the Internet, netizens dubbed him "Panda Man," to honor his kindness. "I do not consider myself a hero, and I donate blood as a social responsibility," he emphasized, adding that assisting others brings him joy.

His adventurous life in China is far more than the blood donation story. He has decided to settle down in China not only to pursue his passion for Chinese culture, but also because he is eager to contribute to the country's progress.

In 2019, he joined Hainan IEDB, an agency established by the Hainan provincial government in the same year, with a mission to develop Hainan as a Free Trade Port in all respects, with distinctive Chinese features.

Ruslan noted that China is a country full of opportunities and the development here is "magnificent." The open and balanced economy, as well as first-of-its-kind innovations, are all part of his willingness to continue his China journey.

In 2020，Ruslan was invited by the Hainan International Media Center to be an Overseas Communication Officer, whose job duties mainly focus on presenting China's stories to an international audience more pragmatically and openly.

He is now planning for the second China International Consumer Products Expo along with his team. Ruslan had a vivid recollection of last year's event. The four-day expo attracted visitors from 70 countries and regions, with 2,628 brands representing 1,505 companies from home and abroad.

According to Ruslan, China has increased its mission to expand ties with the rest of the globe in all spheres, not just limited to trade and investment.

The ambitious young man wants to be a part of this mission and is ready to grab every opportunity that comes his way. "As for my job, I will not stay and wait for the opportunities surfacing. I prefer going out and seeking the potential cooperative opportunities," he said confidently.

This article is also contributed by QU Baoquan and WANG Changyu from Department of Science and Technology of Hainan Province.