Pic story of Kazakh businesswoman at China-Kazakhstan Horgos Int'l Border Cooperation Center

Zulfira Gazizova sells products to a customer at the China-Kazakhstan Horgos International Border Cooperation Center on Aug. 27, 2026.

Zulfira Gazizova, a Kazakh businesswoman, has been working at a duty-free store in the China-Kazakhstan Horgos International Border Cooperation Center for nearly a year.

The center is partly located in Horgos of northwest China's Xinjiang Uygur Autonomous Region and partly in Kazakhstan. As a demonstration area on regional cooperation under the framework of the Shanghai Cooperation Organizatibusinesswomanon (SCO), the center has witnessed ever-growing economic and trade ties among the members of the organization.

Zulfira gained international sales experience in her previous jobs. At the store in the center, she works alongside Chinese colleagues, selling products from Central Asia and Europe.

Seeking to serve customers better and expand the business, Zulfira has led her team in opening an aesthetics and beauty center upstairs from the store. The team is also conducting market research and considering opening additional stores and sourcing products from more countries to meet consumer needs.

For Zulfira, working with colleagues from different countries is about more than business. An international sales team can bring market knowledge from different countries, while Chinese colleagues help them better understand Chinese customers' consumption habits. Such cooperation can create new business opportunities while fostering cultural exchange and mutual understanding.

"People from different countries work together, exchange cultures and gain a better understanding of one another," Zulfira said. (Xinhua/Hu Huhu)

Zulfira Gazizova (L) introduces perfumes to a customer at the China-Kazakhstan Horgos International Border Cooperation Center on Aug. 27, 2026. (Xinhua/Hu Huhu)

Zulfira Gazizova (C) checks product information with her colleague at the China-Kazakhstan Horgos International Border Cooperation Center on Aug. 27, 2026. (Xinhua/Hu Huhu)

Zulfira Gazizova (L) arranges products with her colleague at the China-Kazakhstan Horgos International Border Cooperation Center on Aug. 27, 2026. (Xinhua/Hu Huhu)

Zulfira Gazizova (R, front) communicates with her Chinese manager Cao Zheng at the China-Kazakhstan Horgos International Border Cooperation Center on Aug. 27, 2026. (Xinhua/Hu Huhu)

Zulfira Gazizova (R) and her Chinese colleague (L) introduce products to a customer at the China-Kazakhstan Horgos International Border Cooperation Center on Aug. 27, 2026. (Xinhua/Hu Huhu)

Zulfira Gazizova communicates with her colleagues at the China-Kazakhstan Horgos International Border Cooperation Center on Aug. 27, 2026. (Xinhua/Hu Huhu)

Zulfira Gazizova records a promotional video at the China-Kazakhstan Horgos International Border Cooperation Center on Aug. 27, 2026. (Xinhua/Hu Huhu)

Zulfira Gazizova registers product information at the China-Kazakhstan Horgos International Border Cooperation Center on Aug. 27, 2026. (Xinhua/Hu Huhu)