ZHENGZHOU, Oct 30 : Raissa (L Front) plays a waist drum at Sias University in Zhengzhou, central China’s Henan Province. Seventeen-year-old Raissa was born and bred in Comoros, an island country in the Indian Ocean.

In 2016, Raissa’s grandmother was cured by doctors of the Chinese medical team in Africa. Raissa then developed a strong emotional connection with China, which prompted her to learn Chinese at the local Confucius Institute with unremitting endeavors.

On the preliminary contest of the 12th Chinese Bridge proficiency competition for secondary school students in Comoros this year, Raissa won the championship. Thus she got the chance to visit China for the first time as she came to Zhengzhou to attend the second-round competition.

Raissa sang the Chinese song “Wish You Safe and Well” on the second-round competition. “It is also my sincere wish for the people of China and Comoros,” said Raissa.

Sheerly fascinated by Chinese culture, Raissa has taken part in various activities on traditional Chinese medicine and folk arts during her stay in Zhengzhou.

“My dream is to study medicine in China so that I could cure patients like the Chinese doctors who treated my grandmother,” said Raissa. (Xinhua/Li Jianan)

DOHA, Sept 25: Qatar has announced codeshare cooperation with China Southern Airlines commencing January 2020.

Qatar Airlines had earlier acquired 5% of China Southern Airlines in 2018.

The code-sharing agreement will enable China Southern Airlines passengers to book travel on Qatar Airways flights between the routes Guangzhou and Doha, and Beijing and Doha enabling a one-stop connection to over 80 destinations in the Middle East, Europe, and Africa.

Qatar Airways Group Chief Executive, His Excellency Mr. Akbar Al Baker said: “In December 2018 when we announced our investment in China Southern Airlines, I noted the significant potential for cooperation between our two prestigious airlines. This codeshare agreement is the natural first step in us working together and leveraging our complementary strengths and resources to bring benefits to customers of both our airlines. Qatar Airways very much looks forward to the opportunity to further deepen our working relationship with this great airline and further enhance the travel opportunities for passengers across the globe.”

China Southern Airlines Senior Vice President of International and Corporate Relations, Mr. Wu Guoxiang said: “We are very pleased to have Qatar Airways as our codeshare partner. As a Skytrax Five-Star airline, Qatar Airways’ high service quality and the massive network are very impressive.  Through the efficient Hamad International Airport, with its first rate service, passengers of China Southern Airlines will be able to enjoy the pleasant service to Doha. We very much look forward to enhancing our cooperation in the future and working together to bring more benefits to our customers.”

This cooperation will further enhance the partnership between the two companies and provide more service oriented facilities to the passengers opting to fly in these airlines.