Tighten the cultural bond of solidarity, mutual understanding, and matchmaking (Joining Hands: Upgrading China Central Asia Cooperation)

In the past two years, China and Central Asian countries have made progress in establishing cultural centers, setting up Chinese university branches, and Luban workshops. China Kazakhstan and China Ukraine have achieved visa free access, and last year alone, there were over 1.2 million personnel exchanges between China and Kazakhstan. The Central Asian Countries Tourism Year, Culture Year, and Art Festival have been widely popular in China, and Chinese film and television works such as "Shan Hai Qing" and "My Altay" have become popular in Central Asia. The China Central Asia Cultural Tourism Train has been successfully launched. Today, we will witness China and Central Asia's sister cities breaking through 100 pairs. "On the afternoon of June 17th local time, President Xi Jinping delivered a keynote speech at the second China Central Asia Summit, vividly depicting the fruitful achievements of cultural exchanges between China and Central Asia.


Over 2100 years ago, Zhang Qian of the Han Dynasty in China sent an envoy to the Western Regions, and the ancient Silk Road opened the door to friendly exchanges between China and Central Asia. Nowadays, China and Central Asian countries uphold the Silk Road spirit of peaceful cooperation, openness and inclusiveness, mutual learning and mutual benefit, and strengthen the cultural bond of solidarity, mutual understanding and closeness, and build a strong public opinion and social foundation for generations of friendly cooperation between China and Central Asian countries.

Education cooperation sows the seeds of intergenerational friendship

In the audio-visual classroom of Beijing Language and Culture University Kazakhstan Branch, local students chant rhythmically with Chinese teachers, savoring the charm of ancient Chinese poetry, such as "Taohuatan water is a thousand feet deep, not as deep as Wang Lun's love for me" and "confidants in the sea, as close as neighbors on the ends of the earth".

On July 3, 2024, under the joint witness of President Xi Jinping and President Tokayev of Kazakhstan, the Kazakhstan branch of Beijing Language and Culture University was officially unveiled, becoming the first overseas branch of a Chinese university established in a Central Asian country with Chinese education as its core. In the 2024-2025 academic year, the branch school offers three core courses including Chinese, Chinese reading and writing, and ancient poetry culture, and has trained nearly 100 local Chinese preparatory students in Kazakhstan.

Chinese is becoming increasingly popular worldwide, and I hope to become a translator, international relations expert, or Chinese language educator. As the preparatory stage draws to a close, 19-year-old Kazakhstani student Begina Mukhtargiz is full of aspirations for the future. It is reported that Beijing Language and Culture University Kazakhstan Branch will open two undergraduate majors, International Chinese Education and Chinese Translation, this autumn, and begin recruiting master's students. Mukhtar Kizil told reporters that she is preparing the relevant application materials for the undergraduate program at the branch school.

Language is the bridge of spiritual communication, "said Saul Koshanova, the director of the Kazakhstan branch of Beijing Language and Culture University. In the future, the branch will not only serve Kazakhstan itself, but also plan to open its arms to students from all Central Asian countries." We hope to cultivate more Chinese language professionals, sow the seeds of intergenerational friendship, and deepen practical cooperation between Central Asian countries and China.

Language is the bridge, skills are the foundation. At the 2024 World Vocational College Skills Competition, Tajikistani Luban Workshop student Davratov Abdulmanon and three classmates formed a team to win the silver medal in the finals of the "Urban Gas Pipeline Installation and Leakage Detection" project. As the Tajik proverb goes, 'Knowledge is like a spring in the desert, it can give travelers a new life.' Through studying at the Luban workshop, I touched the pulse of Chinese manufacturing, learned a true skill, and witnessed vocational education becoming the bond that connects Tajikistan and China in friendship, "said Abdulmanon.

As the first Luban Workshop in Central Asia, Tajikistan Luban Workshop has provided learning and practical training opportunities for over 1500 undergraduate and graduate students since its launch in November 2022. Currently, Luban workshops have been established in Kazakhstan, Uzbekistan, and Kyrgyzstan, and the construction of Luban workshops in Turkmenistan is progressing in an orderly manner.

Local cooperation gathers friendly forces among the people

Local cooperation is an important component of practical cooperation between China and Central Asian countries.  

The 2nd China Uzbekistan Local Cooperation Forum was held in Uzbekistan from June 1st to 2nd. Many provinces and cities in China have extensively signed cooperation agreements with relevant regions in Uzbekistan, covering the establishment of friendly provincial, prefectural, and municipal relationships, as well as cultural exchanges, economic and trade cooperation, and other aspects.

During this period, the China Ukraine Literature and Art Exchange Performance was held in Samarkand, and Shaanxi Province of China brought programs with local characteristics. The opening dance, "Northern Shaanxi Yangge", reproduced the welcoming scene of the first China China Asia Summit with passionate dance movements, and "Qin Opera Opera Gathering" showed the powerful spirit of the loess land. The Uzbekistan folk song "Desire for Love Mustakhzad" and dance "Dance of Andijan" convey people's love for a better life and enthusiasm for distant guests.

Last April, the "Journey of Thousands of Miles, Escort for the Heart" rehabilitation ceremony for congenital heart disease children in Kyrgyzstan was held at the Henan Provincial Chest Hospital. Nine congenital heart disease children from impoverished families in Kyrgyzstan successfully completed surgery and postoperative rehabilitation. Kyrgyzstan's Deputy Prime Minister Basarov specifically sent a letter expressing gratitude. Through health cooperation, sick children have the opportunity to receive treatment in China, and their faces are filled with happiness and hope, which deeply moves people, "said Aktilek Musayeva, the ambassador of Kyrgyzstan to China, emotionally.

Shandong Province recently held a series of activities for the 2025 Shandong International Friendship City Cooperation and Exchange Week. Young students from multiple Central Asian countries and youth representatives from other countries gathered in Zibo to experience cultural activities such as calligraphy and intangible cultural heritage handicrafts. Tajikistan youth Shiluzi said that after studying and living in Shandong for 8 years, he truly touched the profound cultural heritage of the Qilu region. In Schluzi's view, China has a vast territory and abundant resources, and its people are warm and friendly. He looks forward to more young people from Central Asian countries coming to China to study and live in the future.

Tourism cooperation enhances mutual understanding and knowledge

On May 31st, a train dressed in the theme of "Silk Road Golden Bridge" slowly entered the platform of Almaty Railway Station in Kazakhstan, carrying more than 200 Chinese passengers. This is the first launch of the China Central Asia Cultural Tourism Train (Xi'an Almaty section).

Welcome the crowd to sing and dance. Li Guoyi, a high school sophomore at Shaanxi Normal University Affiliated Middle School, came to Kazakhstan for the first time. He said, "Traveling abroad by train is a special experience." During the journey, he and his companions enjoyed the magnificent natural scenery and experienced intangible cultural heritage handicraft activities. After the train arrived in Kazakhstan, with the start of the Xi'an Almaty Cultural Tourism Exchange Week, Li Guoyi's campus football team played a five-a-side friendly match against Kazakh football youth. Everyone also went to the cultural market together, watched cultural and archaeological exchange exhibitions, and so on. This immersive cultural experience is far more vivid than knowledge from books, "said Li Guoyi.

This year is Kazakhstan's' China Tourism Year '. Since the implementation of the visa free agreement between China and Kazakhstan at the end of 2023, the popularity of two-way tourism between the two countries has increased. Starting from Khorgos Port, along the Sino Kazakhstan section of the "West China West Europe" highway, it only takes more than 4 hours to reach Almaty. The idea of "gnawing Nang cake in Khorgos in the morning and drinking milk tea in Almaty at noon" has now become a reality.

On June 1st, the visa exemption agreement between Uzbekistan and China officially came into effect, becoming the second Central Asian country to grant visa exemption to China after Kazakhstan. Rustam Alipov, a journalist from Uzbekistan's Ferghana Pravda newspaper, is highly optimistic about the potential for tourism cooperation between the two countries. He believes that the visa free policy can make it more convenient for tourists from both countries to get to know each other.

According to data from Ctrip platform, the number of travel orders from mainland Chinese tourists to Central Asian countries has increased by 74% year-on-year since the beginning of this year. At the same time, the popularity of tourists from Central Asian countries visiting China continues to rise, with inbound tourism orders increasing by 106% year-on-year. At present, cities such as Urumqi, Beijing, Xi'an, and Chengdu have opened direct flights to Central Asia, making travel more convenient. Central Asian countries are also accelerating the promotion of Chinese signage, mobile payment and other services to further enhance their reception capacity for Chinese tourists. Daniel Serjiang, Vice Chairman of Kazakhstan Tourism State Company, said that the tourism industry has become an important link for cooperation between Central Asian countries and China, and cultural exchanges have made us, who are geographically adjacent, know each other better.