Myanmar businessmen find a second home in China's Chuxiong

Xue Fei has lived in Chuxiong city, Yunnan, for nearly 25 years, Nov 11, 2015. [Photo provided to chinadaily.com.cn]

More than 100 businessmen from Myanmar have found a home from home in Chuxiong, a city in China's Southwestern Yunnan province's Chuxiong Yi autonomous prefecture.

Xue Fei (his Chinese name), from Rangoon, has been living in Chuxiong for almost 25 years.

"I came here in 1990 because I saw that China developed fast economically and there would be a lot of opportunities for me to do business," Xue said in fluent Mandarin.

He is running a jade and jewelry store in one of the city's tourist attractions with Yi ethnic features called Ancient Town of Yi People.

"The jade products I sell are mainly from Phakant, which is famous for its jade and the logistics have been more convenient as economic exchanges between the two countries are more closed," Xue said.

As well as his store in Chuxiong, Xue also has one each in Kunming and Guangxi. "I got married to a Chinese woman and have three children. I lead a happy and steady life here," Xue added.

He is not alone, as there are all together 138 Myanmar businessman doing jade business in the community of Ancient Town of Yi People, according to Ma Runzhang, head of the management committee of the community.

"There are all together 147 foreigners living in this community. Beside from Myanmar, a few are from America, South Korea, Bangladesh and so on," Ma said.

"Foreign businessmen like Xue have gradually integrated in the life of this Yi ethnic community and we appreciate their great contribution to local economic development," Ma added.

The community has taken various measures to guarantee the happiness of businessmen from Myanmar.

"As most of the businessmen from Myanmar are Muslims, in May 2013 we set up a space for them in to conduct religious activities, which is very popular with them," Ma said.

Xue, a Muslim, thinks highly of the religious policies of Chuxiong and said he is delighted that there is a space for him to undertake religious activities.