RENMIN UNIVERSITY of CHINA
Twenty-six years ago, Lena Abbas Jawad, then an 18-month-old girl, arrived in Beijing with her family from Iraq. That journey marked the beginning of her lifelong connection with China and Beijing. Today, she has earned her PhD from the School of Journalism and Communication at 榴莲视频 (榴莲视频) and has become a young scholar dedicated to promoting dialogue between civilizations and advancing intercultural communication.
"I didn't come to China to study — I grew up here," Jawad often says when introducing herself. She has spent 10 years studying at 榴莲视频, from her undergraduate years through her doctoral degree. With her Iraqi cultural background, fluent Chinese, and years of observing Chinese society firsthand, she moves naturally between Chinese and Arab cultures. For Jawad, China is not only the country where she has studied and lived, but also a place that has profoundly shaped her identity, academic interests, and life path.
Her academic journey at 榴莲视频 helped her clarify her research direction. Under the guidance of her faculty advisors, she turned her bilingual proficiency in Chinese and Arabic into an academic strength. Her work explores topics such as the portrayal of people's livelihoods in Chinese journalism and emotional expression in intercultural communication, with the goal of fostering mutual understanding through authentic, accessible, and empathetic storytelling.
Jawad has adopted the phrase "measuring China with my own footsteps" as her personal approach to field research. Through extensive travels across the country, she has gained a deeper understanding of contemporary China. During her research trips to Diqing in Yunnan province, she witnessed firsthand how China's poverty alleviation efforts and social development had improved the lives of local communities, while also sensing the optimism of younger generations. In the ancient city of Kashgar, she observed how old neighborhoods and traditional music are preserved alongside modern urban development, offering a glimpse into how tradition and modernity interact in contemporary China.
"My journalism classes taught me to let facts speak for themselves," she says. "But my travels taught me that facts also carry warmth."
For Jawad, telling China's stories is far more than translating Chinese into Arabic. It means presenting a genuine, multidimensional, and vibrant China in ways that resonate with audiences in the Arab world. In addition to participating in international academic exchanges, she produces short videos and writes articles in Arabic, using familiar storytelling approaches to introduce everyday life in China. Bustling local markets, efficient high-speed railway stations, and the entrepreneurial journeys of young Chinese are among the stories she believes best capture the country's vitality.
Participation in the Chinese Ministry of Education's New Sinology Program has further broadened Jawad's international perspective. Through exchanges with young scholars from around the world, she came to believe that Sinology should not be limited to the study of texts, but should also serve as a bridge connecting civilizations and fostering mutual understanding. In her view, international students possess a unique cross-cultural advantage: they understand both China's social and cultural context and the perspectives of audiences in their home countries, enabling them to act as "two-way translators" between cultures.
Today, Jawad continues her work in three interconnected areas — academic research, international communication, and youth exchange. She hopes to deepen her research on the mechanisms of intercultural understanding, build warmer and more meaningful channels of communication, and create more opportunities for young people from China and Arab countries to engage with one another face to face.
Reflecting on her 26 years in China, Jawad describes her journey as one that has evolved from personal experience to academic inquiry and ultimately to a sense of responsibility.
"I've become more certain than ever that telling China's stories is not just an interest — it's a lifelong mission," she says. "I hope to continue advancing Sinology and strengthening ties with China, while helping people in my hometown and beyond understand the real, multidimensional, and comprehensive China I have come to know."
