If Hong Bo and his fellow villagers in Zhongning County in northwest China's Ningxia Hui Autonomous Region had not returned to the city of Yiwu, east China's Zhejiang Province, the shortage facing the city might not be masks, but Arabic translators.

In the past 10 days, more than 1,000 Arabic translators have returned to Yiwu from more than 2,000 km away under the aid of the city government.

Hong, 30, having worked in Yiwu for eight years since graduating from Ningxia Islamic Institute majoring in Arabic, was one of the returned translators.

"In Yiwu, many of our elders have worked as Arabic translators, so our career seems to be a succession," said Hong. "Seven of the 28 students in my class now work as translators in Yiwu."

Since the 1990s, there has been a growing number of Arab businessmen in Yiwu. People from Ningxia, Henan, Gansu and Xinjiang, mainly northwest China, have rushed to Yiwu to work as translators, most of whom are between 20 and 40 years old.

Having an Arabic translator is indispensable in Yiwu. Statistics from the Yiwu foreign affairs office show that about 60 percent of the 15,000 resident foreign businessmen are Arab. In 2019, Arab merchants accounted for 42.3 percent of the total number of foreign businessmen in Yiwu.

Hong's hometown is home to a large number of Muslims. Because of their faith, many people, including Hong's parents, can speak Arabic. His sister also worked as an Arabic translator in Yiwu.

"When we worship, Arabic is a must. I majored in Arabic, so I can not only read, but also write," said Hong.

With the language skills, Hong has worked in Yiwu for Arab clients from Iraq and Yemen, and now earns 5,000 yuan (about 720 U.S. dollars) a month from his Palestinian boss Jamal, plus bonuses at the end of the year.

The company that Hong works for is a foreign trade enterprise having six Arabic and three English translators.

"Our boss often takes us abroad, which has broadened our horizons. We have to learn to talk with people from different Arab countries, such as countries in West Asia and North Africa. Though they have different accents, we are qualified to translate," said Hong.

In Yiwu, Hong and his partners contact buyers, make invoices for the merchants, and take deliveries and load the goods, among other duties.

Two weeks ago, the world's leading small commodities market in Yiwu resumed operation after the prolonged Spring Festival holiday due to the outbreak of the coronavirus. As the number of foreign businessmen is increasing, Arabic translators have been in urgent demand.

When things get back on track, Hong and his colleagues need to help far-abroad customers find samples. When the merchants arrive in Yiwu, the Arabic translators are supposed to accompany them to go to the market to select goods.

"Many foreign businessmen keep asking about the prevention and control of the epidemic in China and are planning to come here soon. I have just received the news that some Palestinian businessmen who are buying wooden toys are planning to come back to Yiwu in the next few days," said Hong.

"The month before Ramadan is the golden selling season for Arab merchants. From previous experience, sales in this period accounted for about half of the year," said Wang Liegang, deputy director of the Yiwu foreign affairs office.

Song Li, head of Yiwu's exit and entry administration bureau, who went to Ningxia to pick up the Arabic translators, said the number of foreign businessmen entering the city is on the rise during the past three weeks.

"We have to create favorable conditions for the recovery in trade," said Song. "In addition to markets and logistics, translation is indispensable. Therefore, Yiwu helped the translators buy air tickets and rent buses to get them back."

Apparently, the trip was not easy, as epidemic control measures are still tight in many parts of China.

Ningxia is chronically dry. Zhongning County, Hong's hometown, is a poverty-stricken area. In the past, people there lived on crops. But after engaging in translation for foreign trade, the fate of many people changed.

Some Arabic translators from poor areas in northwest China have become salesmen, or even started their own businesses in Yiwu.

Hong's Arabic name is Saleh. "It means morality and knowledge, which carries our expectation for a better tomorrow," Hong said.