On the morning of October 17, President Kassym-Jomart Tokayev of the Republic of Kazakhstan led a delegation to visit Beijing Language and Culture University (BLCU) and, on behalf of Kazakhstan, presented the university with a statue of Al-Farabi, the great thinker of the Kazakh steppes. Senior Kazakh officials, including Deputy Prime Minister and Minister of Foreign Affairs Murat Nurtleu, Assistant to the President of the Republic of Kazakhstan for External Affairs Yerzhan Kazykhan, Kazakh Ambassador to China Shakhrat Nuryshev, and Rector of Al-Farabi Kazakh National University Zhanseit Tuimebayev, along with other Kazakh leaders, attended the unveiling ceremony. Chinese Vice Minister of Education Wang Guangyan, Director of the National Art Museum of China Wu Weishan, Chinese Ambassador to Kazakhstan Zhang Xiao, Second-Level Inspector of the Department of International Cooperation and Exchanges at the Ministry of Education Xi Ru, Second-Level Inspector of the Department of International Cooperation and Exchanges at the Ministry of Education Zhang Xiaodong, together with leaders of BLCU, and representatives of Chinese and international faculty and students, were also present at the event.
The unveiling ceremony was presided over by Party Secretary of BLCU Ni Haidong.
President Duan Peng first extended a warm welcome to President Tokayev on behalf of BLCU, expressing that BLCU has always been honored and proud to have President Tokayev as a distinguished alumnus. On the occasion of the 10th anniversary of the Belt and Road Initiative, BLCU joyfully welcomes the Al-Farabi statue, which echoes the Confucius statue on campus. This not only represents a dialogue of human civilizations transcending time and space but also symbolizes the enduring friendship between China and Kazakhstan. Taking President Tokayev's visit as an opportunity, BLCU will establish the Kazakhstan Research Center. In the future, BLCU will continue to implement General Secretary Xi Jinping's directives, effectively carry out its role as the lead institution for the “Mutual Translation Plan for Asian Classics,” support Kazakh Sinologists and young students in studying and exchanging in China, conduct multidisciplinary cooperation in language education and other fields, and promote comprehensive educational exchanges and cooperation between China and Kazakhstan.
Sculptor Wu Weishan, Deputy Secretary-General of the National Committee of the Chinese People's Political Consultative Conference and Director of the National Art Museum of China, stated in his address that the erection of the Al-Farabi statue at BLCU signifies that his spirit has transcended national borders and time, representing cultural exchange and, more importantly, heart-to-heart connections—a dialogue of thoughts and a fusion of emotions that will influence generations of young people on campus.
Vice Minister Wang Guangyan noted in his speech that China and Kazakhstan are good neighbors, good friends, and good partners connected by mountains and rivers and sharing a common destiny. Over the 31 years since the establishment of diplomatic relations, bilateral ties have advanced from friendship to strategic partnership. The leaders of both countries attach great importance to educational cooperation. President Tokayev's visit to a Chinese university during his attendance at the Belt and Road Summit in China not only embodies the deep friendship between the two countries and their peoples but will also inject new momentum into deepening China-Kazakhstan educational cooperation. Over its more than 60 years since founding, BLCU has trained nearly 300,000 international students from 189 countries and regions who are proficient in Chinese and familiar with Chinese culture, making unique contributions to global cultural exchanges and mutual learning. President Tokayev's return to his alma mater with the Al-Farabi statue will inspire BLCU to further refine and leverage its educational strengths to cultivate more outstanding students from various countries.
Alumnus President Tokayev delivered an important speech, first introducing Al-Farabi as a great philosopher born in Kazakhstan whose theories and thoughts focused on justice, harmony, and morality, making outstanding contributions to human progress. Known as the “Second Teacher” after Aristotle, his works remain highly relevant today. President Tokayev mentioned that forty years ago, he studied at BLCU, and now, with the Al-Farabi statue installed here, BLCU faculty and students will gain a deeper understanding of this great philosopher, holding significant symbolic meaning for him. He believes that Al-Farabi's great cultural heritage and intellectual crystallization will become a key focus for BLCU in the future and help strengthen China-Kazakhstan cultural exchanges. Finally, he expressed sincere gratitude to BLCU once again.
Subsequently, President Tokayev and Vice Minister Wang Guangyan unveiled the Al-Farabi statue, with Director Wu Weishan, Party Secretary Ni Haidong, President Duan Peng, and Ambassador Zhang Xiao witnessing this precious moment.
After the ceremony, President Tokayev proceeded to the library for discussions with Vice Minister Wang Guangyan, Party Secretary Ni Haidong, President Duan Peng, and Ambassador Zhang Xiao, among others. He also reminisced about his alma mater with his former teacher, Shiqin Liu. President Tokayev viewed precious materials from his student days and inscribed a message for his alma mater.
Finally, President Tokayev presented BLCU with a portrait of Al-Farabi and Kazakh ethnic handicrafts. In return, President Duan Peng gifted him a campus landscape painting created by BLCU's School of Art and a wooden tea table representing traditional Chinese craftsmanship, expressing hope that the President would visit his alma mater often. Upon departure, President Tokayev engaged in a cordial conversation in Chinese with BLCU's Kazakh students.
Following the Al-Farabi statue unveiling ceremony, President Duan Peng met with the delegation led by Zhanseit Tuimebayev, former Kazakh Minister of Education and current President of the renowned Al-Farabi Kazakh National University. The two universities signed a memorandum of cooperation and unveiled the “Kazakhstan Research Center,” with the ceremony presided over by Vice President Zhang Baojun.
President Duan Peng stated that BLCU will engage in deep cooperation with Al-Farabi Kazakh National University. The Kazakhstan Research Center at BLCU will focus on studies in Kazakhstan's history, culture, education, politics, and other areas, providing greater intellectual support to promote friendly cooperation between China and Kazakhstan.
Rector Zhanseit Tuimebayev remarked that as President Tokayev's alma mater, BLCU enjoys a prestigious reputation in Kazakhstan. Signing the cooperation memorandum and unveiling the Kazakhstan Research Center during President Tokayev's visit holds great significance for Al-Farabi Kazakh National University. He believes that in the future, both sides will advance fruitful cooperation in Kazakhstan studies, language and culture learning, mutual translation of classic works, and other areas, contributing to China-Kazakhstan educational exchanges and cooperation.
