Kazakhstan, which borders China, is one of the eight member states of the SCO. In recent years, more students from Kazakhstan have come to China to study. And one such student has found unexpected fame by donating a rare blood type to the Han Chinese. Wei Lynn Tang tells us more.

RUSLAN TULENOV, STUDENT BEIJING TECHNOLOGY AND SCIENCE UNIVERSITY "Hi, my name is Ruslan Tulenov, I am from Kazakhstan. I came to China for the first time in 2009 to learn Mandarin and get my Bachelor's degree."

And learn, he did, for Ruslan is now able to speak rather fluent Chinese.

But beyond that, little did he expect that a blood donation act almost 10 years back would lead to online popularity today even earning him a mention by President Xi Jinping in 2013, as a symbol of Sino-Kazakhstan friendship.

Ruslan has type Rh-negative blood, also known as "panda blood". It is rare, for it is only possessed by an estimated three out of every thousand Han Chinese.

He has donated the equivalent of more than an average adult's blood volume over the years. Spurred by the need to help people, he says he will continue to donate blood.

RUSLAN TULENOV, STUDENT "As far as I can, as far as my health is in a good condition."

Kazakhstan is among the top ten countries with the most number of students in China. In 2016, almost 14-thousand students from Kazakhstan studied in the Middle Kingdom.

RUSLAN TULENOV, STUDENT BEIJING TECHNOLOGY AND SCIENCE UNIVERSITY "The young people understand that there are many Chinese companies entering the Kazakhstani market – before it used to be many American, European companies they were exploring the oil fields, but right now people slowly start to understand many Chinese companies are coming up."

WEI LYNN TANG BEIJING "Why do you think it's important for China and Kazakhstan to continue to maintain this friendship that they have?"

RUSLAN TULENOV, STUDENT BEIJING TECHNOLOGY AND SCIENCE UNIVERSITY "Because we are very good neighbors. Cooperation between two countries will still grow it shouldn't be stopped only on the economic cooperation but also more cultural, people to people exchange."

Ruslan says the Belt and Road initiative has improved livelihoods in Kazakhstan, including his mother's small business.

RUSLAN TULENOV, STUDENT BEIJING TECHNOLOGY AND SCIENCE UNIVERSITY "We used to need to wait for a month for your order before it arrives at my hometown, but right now with OBOR and modernization of rail roads, it only takes 10 to 15 days."

His decade in China has given Ruslan a family. His daughter was born and is now living in Beijing. He hopes to continue to help strengthen cooperation between his home country and China.

RUSLAN TULENOV, STUDENT BEIJING TECHNOLOGY AND SCIENCE UNIVERSITY "I fulfilled it, you know. In that 10 years memory I blood donated, studied very hard, attended many volunteering activities, I even become first foreigner who joined China's very rare blood type union."

WEI LYNN TANG BEIJING "This year would be 26 years since China and Kazakhstan established diplomatic relations. And in 1996, both countries became co-founders of what is now known as the Shanghai Cooperation Organization. As China and Kazakhstan commit to continue carrying out regional cooperation, some say the best is yet to come for people-to-people exchanges between the two countries. WLT, CGTN, BJ."