On December 2, the 2025 Open Day of the United Cities and Local Governments (UCLG) Belt and Road Initiative Local Cooperation Committee was held in Hangzhou. Rayner Dillon Wibisono (Huang Jiahui), an Indonesian national, and Bezgina Arina (Bai Yu), a Russian national—both international students from the School of Tourism and Urban-Rural Planning—were invited to join guests from all sectors in discussing urban connectivity and the dynamism of development under the Belt and Road Initiative.
As international student representatives, Rayner Dillon Wibisono and Bezgina Arina took part throughout the exchange forum and visited the Nansansfang historic district and the Qiantang River Financial Harbor Service Center. At Nansansfang, they experienced first-hand Hangzhou’s profound Southern Song Dynasty cultural heritage and its everyday street life; at the Qiantang River Financial Harbor Service Center, they gained a direct look at the development achievements and innovative vitality of the financial industry in Hangzhou’s Shangcheng District. In discussion, they said the event gave them a deep sense of the opportunities the Belt and Road Initiative brings for local cooperation and youth exchanges across countries, deepened their understanding of Hangzhou and of China, and left them eager for more opportunities to take part in exchanges and cooperation between China and the world.
The event was guided by the Foreign Affairs Office of the Hangzhou Municipal People’s Government, the Hangzhou People’s Association for Friendship with Foreign Countries, and the UCLG ASPAC Secretariat; hosted by the UCLG Belt and Road Local Cooperation Committee (BRLC); and co-organized by the Shangcheng District People’s Government. Addresses were delivered by a roster of Chinese and international guests, including Miao Chengchao, former Vice Mayor of Hangzhou and Vice Chair of the BRLC; Dr. Bernadia Irawati Tjandradewi, Secretary-General of UCLG ASPAC; Zhang Yan, Party Secretary of Shangcheng District, Hangzhou; and Ms. Maria Moreni, President of the Italy-China Friendship Association and Co-Chair of the BRLC.
Rayner Dillon Wibisono (Huang Jiahui)
Indonesian master’s student in Tourism Management
This year’s Open Day resonated with me on a personal level. The agenda came alive during the powerful talk by Dr. Bernadia Irawati Tjandradewi, Secretary-General of UCLG ASPAC. Hearing her Indonesian viewpoint on local governance and global cooperation framed the entire event as a bridge between our cultures.
That spirit of partnership was evident throughout the day. The energy in the roadshow hall, where Hangzhou’s tech innovators met international guests, buzzed with possibility. It highlighted the real connection between Indonesia and Hangzhou—a partnership moving from high-level talks to practical work in technology, education, and sustainable urban development. The most meaningful moments, however, were the informal ones: sharing stories over lunch, discussing potential projects during the CityWalk, and feeling a genuine sense of common purpose.
Bezgina Arina (Bai Yu)
Russian master’s student in Tourism Management
It was a refreshingly actionable experience! The morning sessions included guest speeches, keynote sharing, government-school-enterprise dialogue, introductions to talent policies for foreigners in Hangzhou, enterprise presentations, employment matching, and more. These sessions offered clear, practical insights into Hangzhou’s latest talent policies, and the matchmaking session gave me direct access to recruiters from companies that are actively hiring internationally. I left with valuable new contacts and a much clearer sense of the professional pathways available in the city for someone at my career stage!
