Roots of rapport

Without question, people who work together can change the world, even if only a small part of it

Ronald Sakolsky is not famous in the United States. But to one woman in China, he is one of the most important people in the world. And their friendship, which spans 27 years, should inspire anyone who believes in the power of people-to-people exchanges.

The story begins in 1999 when Sakolsky was teaching English in Luoyang, Henan province, and he watched a news report about a woman named Yin Yuzhen. She was recognized as a fierce champion in the fight against desertification and someone who was eager to see as many trees as possible planted in the Inner Mongolia autonomous region, which was her home, in order to improve the environment and people's lives. Inspired by her efforts, Sakolsky raised $5,000 to assist Yin. That could have been the end of the story as he eventually returned to the US.

But in fact, it was just the beginning. Even though he planted none of the trees, his generosity led to what are now more than 50,000 trees in the area. One Chinese woman motivated one US man. And look at the results.

Communication was not as convenient in the late 1990s as it is today, and that meant the pair quickly lost track of each other. But fast forward to 2026 and thanks to modern technology, Chinese netizens found Sakolsky, and he and Yin soon began to converse. Almost immediately, plans were put in motion so that he could see the contribution he had made to improving the region — and, of course, to see his friend one more time.

Sakolsky and Yin met again on Aug 23. Photographs and videos captured upon his arrival at the airport in Ordos, the Inner Mongolia autonomous region, show the absolute joy both felt upon seeing one another again after 26 years. They cried. They hugged. They posed for pictures. He called her "the hero" of this story because she made a promise 27 years ago and she kept her promise to foster the planting of trees. Sakolsky said that the two should now be thought of as "brother and sister".

Before his flight to China, Sakolsky said that he and Yin "communicate through the heart and we always have". That is a powerful reminder to not only US citizens, but also billions of non-Chinese-speaking people worldwide: The bonds of connection with the Chinese people can be made in many ways. Perhaps it is through education, sports or music. Maybe it results from research partnerships, video games or photography. No matter how they happen, those bonds are more valuable than ever in the 21st century because ordinary people can consistently take actions to build bridges even when some in political circles insist that building walls is the right way to conduct international relations.

Yin is, as Sakolsky suggests, a "hero" for her tireless work to improve the quality of the natural environment around her. That service can encourage more people from China, the US and beyond to take part in afforestation and environmental protection. Think of it this way: Yin might never make it into a history book, but for generations the people near her home will positively remember her. She had a dream that first attracted a US teacher and soon ignited the same positive energy in countless others. But none of that would happen if people-to-people exchanges were not in place. The doors of friendship must always be kept open.

Literally and figuratively more trees need to be planted, and the work to improve the climate in and around the Inner Mongolia autonomous region and around the world must continue. Related to this, as some governments challenge the need to invest in green technologies, China has blazed a trail most notably through photovoltaics and electric vehicles to combat climate change. Each tree makes a difference. Each piece of green technology makes a difference.

I hope that one day I might bring a group of students to China, a country that I have never been to. Should such a trip happen, one of the key ingredients would be seeing the sites and perhaps meeting influential people. But another important component is meeting Chinese people who are seeking to make the world a better place. Yin Yuzhen most definitely is.

The author is an associate professor at the Communication and Organizational Leadership Department at Robert Morris University in Pennsylvania, the US.

The author contributed this article to China Watch, a think tank powered by China Daily. The views do not necessarily reflect those of China Daily or Robert Morris University.

Contact the editor at editor@chinawatch.cn.