At her home in Atyrau, Kazakhstan, thousands of miles away from the tropical climes of Hainan, Farida has lovingly kept multiple issues of Hainan Daily, the earliest published almost 12 years ago on September 8, 2013. The headline of that issue reported on someone particularly special to her, a young Kazakh man named Ruslan Tulenov. Despite being unable to read Chinese, she is intimately familiar with the subject matter of that article. After all, Ruslan is her son.

Last July, Farida moved to Hainan to be with her son. “My mom loves Hainan. She even signed up for Chinese language lessons at Hainan University, where I was once a student.” Hainan Daily caught up with the mother and son alumni in April this year, just as they were preparing to give blood at a donation center near the school. We showed Ruslan and his mother an electronic copy of an article published in our paper five years ago, which shows him busy at his desk. The article evoked numerous memories.

An article on Ruslan’s participation in the Hainan Free Trade Port’s construction, titled “Ruslan’s ‘Thicker than Water’ Hainan Story,” was published in Hainan Daily on July 17, 2020.

Growth motivated by glowing reports

Way back in 2009, 17-year-old Kazakh national Ruslan set out from his hometown, Atyrau, by train, making his way to Hainan out of the desire to learn more about China. Here, he began to learn Chinese and was later enrolled in Hainan University and the University of Science and Technology Beijing, where he earned his bachelor’s and master’s degrees, respectively.

In the more than a decade since, Ruslan has amassed a mountain of treasured memories. The rarity of his Rh-negative blood, which he has freely donated on a regular basis since being in China, has earned him the moniker “panda man.”  He was even praised as a “China-Kazakhstan friendship ambassador” by Chinese President Xi Jinping in a speech at Nazarbayev University in Kazakhstan on September 7, 2013. That day was the first time that Hainan Daily ever interviewed Ruslan. A headline article titled “Ruslan: My Hainan Love Story,” published the following day, talked about how he came to live and study in Hainan, making particular mention of his regular, long-term blood donations. 

Just over a month later, at Hainan University’s 2013 commencement ceremony for international students, Ruslan was awarded the “Outstanding Contribution Award” by the school for his “internationalist spirit of boundless love and selfless dedication.” He also received the Hainan Provincial Government International Student Scholarship together with sixteen other students. Naturally, Hainan Daily was there to report on these events. “These reports have had an enormous impact on my life in China, recording various key events of my life here in Hainan. I’ve been fortunate. The media coverage over the years has definitely motivated me,” exclaimed Ruslan. Over time, as the stories kept coming, Ruslan gradually became accustomed to the media coverage, like an old friend who’s always there.

Between 2013 and 2024, Hainan Daily has tallied up numerous articles featuring Ruslan, becoming the “annals” of his life in Hainan, from student to employee to dedicated contributor to the Hainan FTP’s construction.

From an international student far away from home to the first international employee of the Hainan Provincial Bureau for International Economic Development (Hainan IEDB), let’s take a look at Ruslan’s career trajectory. 

Ruslan and his mother, Farida, take a stroll through the grounds of Hainan University. (Photo provided by Ruslan.)

The 5th China International Consumer Products Expo (CICPE) recently concluded in Haikou, marking the end of a frantic period for Ruslan, who serves as the deputy director of the investment promotion division at Hainan IEDB, the event’s main organizer. This year, as in previous years, Ruslan and his team have worked tirelessly to bring various big-name and boutique consumer brands to the CICPE. Beyond coordinating preparations for this annual event, he has also helped land various enterprises and projects in Hainan, typically leveraging the CICPE platform.

One such example of this was the Richemont Group, which has several big-name luxury brands under its belt. In May 2021, after participating in the first CICPE as an exhibitor, the conglomerate decided to invest in Hainan. “I’ve worked with Richemont for years. They went ahead and set up a wholly owned subsidiary here in Haikou,” explained Ruslan, who played no small part in the move.

The CICPE, which has drawn exhibitors from around the world to Hainan for half a decade, welcomed a new country this year: Ruslan’s homeland of Kazakhstan. He managed to find time in his busy schedule to take his mother for a look. The familiar sight and smells of camel milk soap, wine, and various other Kazakh products on the global stage filled them both with pride.

Drawing strength from the past

Ruslan’s journey has been the realization of a dream, from the south of the Ural Mountains to the South China Sea. In his own words: “In Hainan, I have uncovered the five most precious 'pearls' of my existence – my wife, my friends, my studies, my views, and unforgettable memories.” (“Ruslan the Panda Man.” Hainan Daily, August 29, 2016)

Back then, he couldn’t have known that yet another of life’s peaks awaited him in Hainan. On April 12, 2022, Ruslan was selected to be part of a delegation to meet Chinese President Xi Jinping at Yangpu International Container Terminal in Danzhou, Hainan. After hearing Ruslan speak, Xi complimented him on his fluent Chinese and thoughtful words, calling him a “China pro.” “From ‘Panda Man’ to ‘China pro,’ I felt that my value was being realized at a higher level,” explained Ruslan to Hainan Daily’s reporter in the article “President Xi Called me a ‘China Pro’” dated April 14, 2022.  Even today, Ruslan can’t contain his excitement recalling that day’s events.

For Ruslan, these stories that have been reported on have become a wellspring of power that continues to shape his thinking and actions to this day. After the conclusion of this year’s CICPE, he accompanied exhibitors on a tour of Hainan’s key industrial parks. “After the CICPE, I try my best to transform exhibitors into investors.” Ruslan is no stranger to this fast pace. Since being employed by Hainan IEDB in 2019, he has worn many “hats,” from “global media officer” to “Russian-language service specialist.” He and his team provide investment consulting services to domestic and international enterprises, promoting the Hainan FTP’s favorable policies and investment opportunities.

Outside the office, Ruslan has continued to bring more meaning to his life. On the day that he was interviewed for this article, he and his mother had visited a blood donation center to give blood, only to be recognized by a fellow blood donor. “Do you remember last year in Evergreen Park? We took a selfie together,” said 67-year-old donor, Tang Xingyu, as he scrolled through his phone’s album to find the photo. “I remember. It was at the 2024 Hainan Blood Donation Promotion Event,” replied Ruslan. In the photo, Ruslan, who was attending the event as a blood donation ambassador, can be seen surrounded by volunteers and donors vying to take a picture with him. However, he was undeterred by this attention. He hopes that such photos encourage more people to come forward and give blood.

“There’s a saying in Kazakh: friendship is a fortune that never dries up,” explained Ruslan. Hainan’s openness has attracted talent from far and wide. He believes that this far-flung island province will continue to provide him with opportunities to realize his potential fully, enabling him to contribute to the prosperity and development of the Hainan FTP.

Ruslan, an international student turned FTP talent, has grown through and with Hainan. And, just like the coconut palms that grace this tropical island, his smile and outlook remain evergreen.