Editor's note: 2023 marks the 10th anniversary of the Belt and Road Initiative (BRI). Over the past decade, BRI's philosophy has become deeply rooted in people's hearts and minds. It has brought profound changes to the local people's lives and countries' developments. Many stories have been told over the past decade about these changes. This documentary series, Rising with Pride, brings the audience the people-centered stories that show how the BRI has connected people and, more importantly, how it connected them to the pursuit of betterment in life.

This episode focuses on the experience of Bolivian worker Hector Cespedes Veizaga. The San Jose Hydroelectric Power Station in Bolivia is the first hydroelectric power plant project of a Chinese-funded enterprise to enter the South American market. It is located in the valley between the Andes Mountains and the Amazon Plain. The power generated by the San Jose Hydropower Station has brought great changes to the originally barren agricultural areas in the region.

Hector's family has switched from gas to electric lighting and from radios to televisions. No longer enduring the darkness of night, Hector's children can not only complete their studies at night, but also utilize their cell phones to enjoy the convenience of technology. Electricity has not only changed the local people's way of life, but also brought them more opportunities. Today, Colomi is characterized as "the hydroelectric capital of Bolivia." It is a source of pride for the people of Colomi, and even more so for Bolivia. Hector's story epitomizes Colomi's path to hydroelectricity. This "hydroelectric capital" of Bolivia has orchestrated a mesmerizing hydroelectric symphony, where the flow of water conducts harmony and illuminates progress, creating a masterpiece of sustainable development.

This episode was co-created by the Chinese team with veteran Bolivian director Oliver Vargas and journalist Bradley Blankenship and will be aired in iDocumenta, a specialized media company for Latin American documentaries.

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