Ms Hala Metwally. (PHOTO: the International Talent Magazine)

By?XU?Qingqun?and?LONG?Yun

Hala Metwally, an Egyptian media expert, has been fascinated with China's historical legacy and cultural achievements since she was a young girl. She kept clipping articles from the newspaper about China and has been keeping a China -related "notebook" of sorts for years. In 1992, while a student majoring in Chinese at Ain Shams University in Egypt, Metwally developed a dream to work at China's Xinhua News Agency. Four years later, her dream became a reality when she was employed in the Arabic editorial department of Xinhua's Middle East general branch in Cairo. In 2011, after being selected to work as a revising expert at Xinhua's headquarters in Beijing, Metwally began a new chapter in her life in the Chinese capital.

She has now been devoted to being a communication link between China and the Arab world for more than 26 years with the magic of language. Her work mainly focuses on translating, reviewing, and editing the foreign-language articles submitted by journalists, which is highly demanding and carries a great responsibility. In order to better connect China with the world, Metwally checks all aspects of the content and presentation of the articles sent from Xinhua's branch offices. "She is very hard-working and diligent, and never complains about anything," her colleagues noted, saying she is a role model at work.

While working at Xinhua News Agency, Metwally has experienced and covered many unforgettable moments, including the return of Hong Kong and Macau to China, the 100th anniversary of the founding of the Communist Party of China and other significant events. She said these historical moments fully reflect that the wisdom of Chinese people lies in the old saying, "Where there is a will, there is a way."

According to Metwally, her work on the revisions allowed her to help the world gain a better sense of China and its development, including the country's achievements and its commitment to the rest of the world. "Although sometimes a sentence, a phrase, or even a word has to be reviewed over and over again carefully, I will feel happy after changing the article into a wonderful story. I think that makes this work so attractive," she said.

Based on her experience in cross-cultural communication, she believes that the media in China could incorporate more "Chinese stories" into their reporting. The most appealing narratives are those that are both emotionally engaging and real.

Metwally said the miraculous success China has achieved in reducing poverty, has not only allowed the entire Chinese population to share in the benefits of reform and development, but also helped to advance the fight against poverty worldwide. Many people around the world will be inspired by the stories behind the numbers that show China has accomplished its first centenary goal.

On the topic of the Belt and Road Initiative, she said China is currently funding a number of large-scale initiatives in Egypt, and many other smaller projects are also being undertaken that will have a more direct impact on the daily lives of Egyptians.

From her perspective, more effective international communication can be expected along with the increase in reports of China's role in assisting other countries' citizens in their pursuit of economic development and better living standards. When asked about her plans for the future, Metwally hoped to use her writing to help more people in the Middle East and beyond learn about, appreciate, and even fall in love with China.

This story is in cooperation with the International Talent Magazine published by Foreign Talent Research Center of MOST.

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