IN Shenzhen, a drone descended from the sky, delivering a cup of coffee directly into the hands of Ahmed Nasser AlAnzi. For the 34-year-old administrative employee from Saudi Arabia, this seamless moment captured a defining feature of modern China — where technology is so deeply woven into the social fabric that daily life becomes effortless.

His five-day journey through Shenzhen, Hong Kong, and Beijing ealier this month — his first to China — began weeks earlier under dramatically different circumstances. It started with a flash flood in Saudi Arabia’s Hail region last month, where AlAnzi and two friends rescued two Chinese engineers from an overturned vehicle swept away by raging waters. “There was no time to think. We just acted,” AlAnzi recalled. “In such a moment, you see people, not nationalities.”

The video of the rescue spread widely on social media in both Saudi Arabia and China, drawing attention from Chinese officials, who later invited the three Saudis to visit.

Shenzhen, where AlAnzi first witnessed China’s tech-driven convenience, left a strong impression. “This is the kind of innovation we’re also working toward,” he said. Later, aboard a high-speed train to Hong Kong, he experienced what many call “Chinese speed” — smooth, quiet, and relentless.

Beyond infrastructure, he observed how technology integrates into urban life: from mobile payments and shared bicycles to systems that serve millions efficiently.

In a Beijing park, he learned to play diabolo and pick up simple Chinese phrases like “Nihao” (hello) and “Xiexie” (thank you). “It’s the kindness of the Chinese people that made this journey truly special,” he said.

What began as a spontaneous rescue evolved into a personal insight into a partnership built not only on projects and policies, but on human connection. “You help someone, and later find yourself welcomed into their world,” AlAnzi reflected. “That is how trust grows.” (Xinhua)