BLCU News, May 6 (Correspondent Ran Meng, Photographer Wei Da) – On the morning of May 6, President Duan Peng received Kyrgyzstan Deputy Prime Minister Edil Baisalov and his delegation.
President Duan Peng extended a warm welcome to Deputy Prime Minister Baisalov on behalf of Beijing Language and Culture University (BLCU), introducing the university's history and distinctive educational features. He stated that 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 732 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. Subsequently, President Duan introduced the university's ongoing integrated bachelor's-master's-doctoral program in Sinology and Chinese Studies, which cultivates high-level Sinology talent with international vision and cross-cultural communication skills through joint research projects and transnational academic practices.
Deputy Prime Minister Baisalov expressed sincere gratitude for BLCU's warm reception and highly recognized the university's outstanding contributions to promoting China-Kyrgyz educational exchanges and talent cultivation. He noted that BLCU, with its profound foundation in language and cultural education, has trained numerous versatile talents for Kyrgyzstan who are proficient in Chinese and familiar with Chinese culture. Through diverse academic collaborations and cultural activities, the university has continuously enhanced mutual understanding and trust among youth from both countries, laying a solid foundation for deepening the new-era comprehensive strategic partnership between China and Kyrgyzstan.
Accompanied by President Duan Peng, Deputy Prime Minister Baisalov and his delegation strolled through the campus. In the Peace Garden, they jointly viewed the statue of renowned Kyrgyz writer Chingiz Aitmatov. Donated during Kyrgyz President Sadyr Zhaparov's visit to BLCU in February this year, the statue's installation has attracted widespread attention from China, Kyrgyzstan, and Central Asia, becoming an important symbol for advancing higher education cooperation and cultural exchanges between the two countries and promoting bilateral friendship.
Deputy Prime Minister Baisalov lingered at the statue, recounting to his entourage Aitmatov's contributions to promoting dialogue among civilizations through literature, praising the statue's installation as a "milestone in China-Kyrgyz cultural mutual trust." Subsequently, Deputy Prime Minister Baisalov engaged in cordial interactions with Chinese and international students studying and participating in activities in the Peace Garden, creating a relaxed and harmonious atmosphere, and posed for commemorative photos.
Relevant department heads from BLCU's Office of International Cooperation and Exchange and the School of Sinology and Chinese Studies participated in the exchange activities.
Editor: Siyu Chen
Reviewer: Meixian Yao
