BLCU News, February 5 (Correspondent Geng Cong, Photographer Wei Da) – Welcoming distinguished guests during the joyous festival season, building new bridges of friendship together. On the afternoon of February 5, President of the Kyrgyz Republic Sadyr Zhaparov, accompanied by his wife Aigul Zhaparova, led a delegation to visit Beijing Language and Culture University (BLCU) and unveiled the statue of renowned Kyrgyz writer Chingiz Aitmatov. Over 40 senior Kyrgyz officials accompanied the visit. Attending the unveiling ceremony were Chinese Vice Minister of Education Wu Yan, Director-General Yang Dan of the Department of International Cooperation and Exchanges at the Ministry of Education, Kyrgyz Ambassador to China Aktilek Musayeva, Deputy Director-General Xi Ru of the Department of International Cooperation and Exchanges at the Ministry of Education, BLCU university leaders, and over 350 representatives of Chinese and international faculty and students.
Party Secretary Ni Haidong presided over the unveiling ceremony and, on behalf of the university, extended a warm welcome to President Zhaparov and First Lady Zhaparova, conveying the most sincere greetings to the Kyrgyz guests who had traveled from afar.
President Duan Peng delivered the welcome address. He stated that China and Kyrgyzstan are friendly neighbors connected by mountains and rivers. Under the strategic guidance of President Xi Jinping and President Zhaparov, both sides have established a new-era comprehensive strategic partnership, with cooperation flourishing across various fields. As a key university directly under the Chinese Ministry of Education, BLCU has long been dedicated to China-foreign cultural exchanges and mutual learning among civilizations, serving as an important base for cultivating international talent who understand and befriend China. It has trained nearly 300,000 international students from 189 countries and regions who are proficient in Chinese and knowledgeable about Chinese culture, including over 80 dignitaries above the deputy prime minister level and more than 300 foreign ambassadors. Since 1992, BLCU has trained a total of 340 outstanding Kyrgyz students. They are witnesses and beneficiaries of China-Kyrgyz exchanges, as well as disseminators and builders, playing an important role in enhancing understanding and friendship between the peoples of both countries. BLCU looks forward to establishing broader cooperation with Kyrgyz universities in fields such as Sinology and Chinese Studies, international Chinese education, language science research, and regional and country studies, supporting the development of relevant disciplines at Kyrgyz institutions, promoting bilateral educational and cultural exchanges, and sharing the fruits of civilization. We thank President Zhaparov and his delegation for presenting BLCU with the statue of Mr. Aitmatov. In the future, peoples from China and Kyrgyzstan, especially young students from around the world, will gather around the Aitmatov statue in BLCU's Peace Garden for academic exchanges, music performances, and reading sessions, undoubtedly infusing the garden with vibrant energy for mutual learning among civilizations.
Sculptor Yuan Xikun, Standing Member of the 12th National Committee of the Chinese People's Political Consultative Conference and Director of the Beijing Jintai Art Museum, stated in his address that the installation of the Aitmatov statue at BLCU is another significant outcome of cultural exchanges between China and Kyrgyzstan. It aims to share humanity's common spiritual wealth and outstanding world cultural heritage through artistic creation, allowing art forms to be inherited and continued in broader realms, inspiring people of different ethnicities, skin colors, and the next generation.
Vice Minister Wu Yan, on behalf of the Ministry of Education of the People's Republic of China, extended a warm welcome to President Zhaparov and his delegation and expressed sincere gratitude to colleagues long dedicated to promoting China-Kyrgyz friendship and educational cooperation. In his speech, Vice Minister Wu pointed out that China and Kyrgyzstan are good neighbors, good friends, and good partners connected by mountains and rivers and sharing a common destiny. Under the strategic guidance of the two heads of state, cooperation in political, economic, cultural, and other fields has flourished, particularly in education, where both countries have achieved new results in student exchanges, university cooperation, joint talent cultivation, and language teaching. Against the backdrop of rising “Chinese fever” and “Chinese culture fever” in Kyrgyzstan, the Chinese government encourages Chinese youth to study in Kyrgyzstan and welcomes more outstanding Kyrgyz youth to study in China, achieving two-way flows. He noted that Mr. Aitmatov, with his exceptional talent and profound thoughts, has added brilliant gems to the world literary treasury. The unveiling of the Aitmatov statue at BLCU not only commemorates this great figure but also inherits China-Kyrgyz friendship, which will strongly promote mutual learning among civilizations and cultural exchanges between the two countries. We hope universities from both countries will further strengthen ties and cooperation to become promoters of China-Kyrgyz exchanges. We hope youth from both countries will learn from each other and grow together to become inheritors of China-Kyrgyz friendship. The Chinese Ministry of Education is willing to work with the Kyrgyz side to jointly implement the consensus of the two heads of state, making concerted efforts and moving forward together to deepen mutual learning among civilizations, enhance the well-being of both peoples, and promote bilateral relations, making more positive contributions.
President Zhaparov delivered an important speech, first expressing heartfelt gratitude to BLCU's leadership and all faculty and students for meticulously organizing the Aitmatov statue unveiling ceremony during his state visit to the People's Republic of China. He pointed out that BLCU, as a convergence of different cultures and ideas, is an ideal platform for cultural exchange and mutual learning among civilizations. Youth from various countries overcome language and cultural barriers here, respecting and sharing with each other, becoming more united through close communication and integration. Over the years, BLCU has trained a group of outstanding Kyrgyz students who play an active role in political, economic, and cultural collaboration between the two countries. With its advanced educational philosophy and fruitful achievements, BLCU has made outstanding contributions to strengthening connections and enhancing friendship between the two nations. He emphasized that both Kyrgyzstan and China have deep historical and cultural traditions, with enormous potential for cooperation in humanities and culture. He noted that Aitmatov's works carry profound philosophy. Erecting Aitmatov's statue at BLCU is a high tribute to him, a recognition of his contributions to world culture, and an important measure to strengthen cultural ties between the two countries and enhance friendship and understanding between the peoples, which will make significant contributions to strengthening Kyrgyzstan-China cultural cooperation and become an eternal witness to the friendship between the two peoples. Finally, the President quoted Aitmatov's aphorism, expressing anticipation for comprehensive collaboration with China on the basis of mutual benefit to jointly promote prosperity and people's well-being in both countries.
Subsequently, President Zhaparov, Vice Minister Wu Yan, Party Secretary Ni Haidong, and President Duan Peng jointly unveiled the Aitmatov statue and posed for a group photo.
During his visit to BLCU, President Zhaparov signed a message, praising BLCU not only as an excellent institution but also as an important hub for cultural exchange, committed to respecting and preserving the diversity of world cultures. The unveiling of the sculpture highlights the importance of cultural exchange and respect for humanity's common heritage. He encouraged students to persist in pursuing knowledge and achieve success, wishing BLCU even greater achievements in the future.
This event coincided with the Chinese Lunar New Year, and BLCU faculty and students welcomed the Kyrgyz delegation with exciting opening performances. The Chinese percussion ensemble Dragon Soaring and Tiger Leaping kicked off the event, with stirring drumbeats depicting a grand scene of dragons soaring in prosperous times and tigers leaping across mountains and rivers, showcasing the indomitable spirit of the Chinese nation.
Following that, the guzheng ensemble Fishermen's Song at Dusk gently rose, with the guzheng's ancient and elegant tones highlighting the instrument's lingering charm in duet form. This was not only a musical feast but also a profound experience and inheritance of Chinese culture, promoting cultural exchange and fusion between China and Kyrgyzstan, jointly building enduring China-Kyrgyz friendship.
Editor: Siyu Chen
Reviewer: Meixian Yao
