A 19-year-old student from Melbourne says his first trip to China opened his eyes to a world of opportunities. 

Mohammad Awwady's interest in the country started with making Chinese friends at the University of Melbourne and joining a Mandarin learning club. From there, he traveled to the Canton Fair in Guangzhou, south China's Guangdong Province, for a firsthand look at the country's manufacturing and new tech, which challenged some of the media perceptions he had been exposed to.

Awwady, who studies finance and marketing, now sees China as a major hub for commerce and entrepreneurship. What struck him most was the people he met: hard-working, friendly and open-minded. His advice for other young entrepreneurs is to see China for themselves. He believes firsthand exchanges are the best way to overcome misconceptions and gain a clearer picture of China's development and business potential.