Yemenis have been success makers throughout history, despite many times being far from their homeland.
Sheikh Ahmed Al-Yafeai, president of the Yemen community in China, is a man who loves humanitarian work and helping others, as was described that way by everyone we met in China.
The Yemen Post was received in his office. The office was full with scientific global certificates from the best universities of America and Canada, as well as certificates of thanks from famous businessmen and diplomats from various Arab and foreign countries.
Below are details of a summarized interview:

YP. Give our readers a brief introduction about yourself?
AY. My name is Ahmed Hussein Bin Yousuf Al-Yafeai, from Yafea area of Lahj province.
I hold bachelors in business administration from New York University, and a certificate of English proficiency from Cambridge University, U.S.

YP. How was your beginning?
AY. It was a modest beginning, in 1980, I traveled to Saudi Arabia then to the UAE. I worked for the Dubai Police for a year. After that, I traveled to study in Britain, America and Canada, and I was working and studying. My journey was hard and tiring.

YP. Why have you preferred to stay in China?
AY. I decided to stay in China due to the commercial and industrial growth indicators, and because the Chinese government encourages investors, and we gained great respect among the Chinese.
However, the Chinese are distinguished by their love to work, production and delivery, thankfully, I gained the trust of Arab and Chinese traders and now I have four companies and eighty employees in China.

YP. The world is moving to China because it is an industrial country, unfortunately, in Yemen there are Chinese goods with a lower quality, why?
AY. China is producing goods to the whole world, however, goods that go to the United States are made with American standards, as well as goods for Europe, Asian and African countries.
Yemeni traders should feel responsible towards their citizens and their country by importing goods of high quality.
It is worth mentioning that the old traders of Yemen were the first who brought Islam to these countries, through their good treatments and high morals in business.

YP. You are from south Yemen, what is your comment for those who call for secession in south Yemen?
AY. We call for healing, and hope our leadership represented by President Ali Abdullah Saleh set the agreed foundations of the Yemeni unity, because it is our fate and our destiny.
However, the government should address the sufferings of Yemenis, establish the system, address the deterioration in the security and economic aspects and improve lives of the people because this helps to minimize problems.
All Yemenis should work to improve their country whether they are citizens or officials.

YP. What are the most important successes achieved by Ahmed Al-Yafeai at all levels?
AY. - Politically, I am head of the Yemeni-Arab community in China.
- Economically, I own four commercial-service offices, and have 80 employees. Also, I am the commercial representative to Yemen, authorized by the Ministry of Trade and Industry of Yemen.
- Humanitarianly, through my visits to different parts of the world and through the good reputation, I was chosen as president of an organization to build an Islamic Center in China, in coordination with the Chinese government.
We call on good people to contribute in this project, as it is the first major Islamic Centre for the Muslim community in China.

YP. What does the opening of Yemenia Airways Sana’a-Guangzhou route mean to you?
AY. This has been our dream for a long time and thank God this was achieved. This means increasing the links between the two countries, and increasing trade and cultural exchanges.