Flood rescue becomes a bridge between Saudi Arabia and China

In a quiet Beijing hutong, Ahmed Nasser AlAnzi watched as a street vendor completed a sale with a simple scan of a QR code, a beep and a nod marking the transaction done.

For the 34-year-old administrative employee from Saudi Arabia, that seamless moment captured a defining feature of modern China, where technology is so deeply integrated into society that it makes daily life effortless.

AlAnzi's five-day trip to Shenzhen, Hong Kong, and Beijing — his first visit to China — was set in motion weeks earlier under starkly different circumstances. It began with a flash flood in Saudi Arabia.

During a heavy storm in November in the Hail region, AlAnzi and two friends spotted an overturned vehicle being swept away by raging waters. Inside were two Chinese engineers. They entered the current without hesitation and pulled them to safety.

"There was no time to think. We just acted," AlAnzi says. "In such a moment, you see people, not nationalities."

The video of the rescue went viral on Saudi social media and also garnered numerous likes on Chinese platforms. In the video, these Saudi youths address the employees of the Chinese-funded enterprise as "friends" in Arabic, comforting them with "don't be afraid", before driving them to a safe location.

The engineers they rescued were part of a growing network of Chinese professionals in Saudi Arabia, contributing to projects under the kingdom's Vision 2030. This strategic vision aligns closely with the Belt and Road Initiative, particularly in building infrastructure, deploying technology, and shaping new urban landscapes.

Their courage also drew the attention of Chinese officials, who later invited AlAnzi and his friends to visit the country.

What AlAnzi experienced in China left a strong impression. In Shenzhen, a drone from online platform Meituan delivered coffee directly to his hands. "This is the kind of innovation we're also working toward," he says.

Aboard a high-speed train to Hong Kong, he felt what many call "Chinese speed": smooth, quiet and relentless.

Beyond physical infrastructure, he observed how technology weaves through social life, from shared bicycles and mobile payments to efficient urban systems serving millions.

"There's a confidence here," he said while walking through Beijing's Sanlitun, where historical courtyards stand beside contemporary architecture. "It comes from knowing your past while building decisively toward the future."

One of his most meaningful exchanges happened in a Beijing park, where retirees taught him to play diabolo — the Chinese yo-yo. After a few tries, he got the hang of it.

"It's the kindness of the Chinese people that made this journey truly special," he says.

Throughout his stay, AlAnzi picked up simple Chinese phrases like nihao (hello) and xiexie (thank you). "This trip wasn't about repayment; it was about connection," he says. "I helped their engineers in Saudi Arabia; here, they shared part of their culture with me."

What had begun as a spontaneous rescue had become a personal glimpse 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," he says. "That is how trust grows."