Translation. Region: Russian Federation –
Source: People's Republic of China in Russian – People's Republic of China in Russian –
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Source: People's Republic of China – State Council News
MIRLAN DYLDAEV, Rector of the Bishkek State University named after K. Karasaev
China is a country with a centuries-old history and a unique, distinctive culture that continues to amaze the world with its inexhaustible wealth of traditions. The role of Chinese culture in the world is vast and multifaceted: it has had a profound influence on the formation of civilizations in Asia and continues to play a significant role in modern global society.
Many of humanity's achievements have their roots in Chinese civilization. Ancient China gave the world paper, gunpowder, the compass, and printing—inventions that radically changed the course of history not only for Asian peoples but also for the European continent. Furthermore, such traditional Chinese materials as silk and porcelain became important commodities in global trade, and the Silk Road became a bridge between East and West.
The philosophical legacy of Confucianism and Taoism has influenced the philosophy, ethics, and social norms of many Eastern countries and remains a subject of study in the social sciences and humanities worldwide as important sources of wisdom in matters of social governance, interpersonal relationships, and achieving harmony. Fundamental principles of ancient Chinese philosophy such as humaneness, harmony, order and hierarchy, the golden mean, the value of family, and respect for elders remain relevant in today's globalizing world. And the ideas of Taoism—following the natural order of things ("Tao") and striving to live in harmony with nature—are more relevant than ever today in the face of climate change and global environmental challenges.
Modern China actively utilizes its rich spiritual culture as a tool of soft power to strengthen its international influence. Chinese culture, while maintaining its unique identity, actively adapts to modern realities and continues to enrich global civilization, offering its solutions and ideas for addressing global problems. A clear example of this is the concept of a community with a shared future for humanity and the Belt and Road Initiative, which reflect the interests and development direction of all humanity.
Confucius Institutes are opening around the world, promoting the Chinese language and culture, fostering mutual understanding and expanding ties. To strengthen educational cooperation between China and Kyrgyzstan, in accordance with the decision reached by the heads of state at the 2007 SCO Bishkek Summit and thanks to the joint efforts of Xinjiang University and Bishkek State University named after K. Karasayev (BSU), a Confucius Institute has been successfully operating at our university since June 15, 2008.
BSU named after K. Karasaev is the first university in Kyrgyzstan to train specialists in the history and culture of China. This began in 1991. In 2004, we opened the Kyrgyz-Chinese Faculty, which plays a key role in strengthening cooperation between Kyrgyzstan and China in higher education. The faculty employs approximately 40 faculty members and enrolls over 800 students.
Over the past few years, from 2022 to 2025, more than 40 of our students completed language internships at universities in China. In July 2024, the best students attended a summer camp in Xi'an, Shaanxi Province, under the Belt and Road Scholarship Program. In July 2025, 10 of the best students attended the Urumqi-Xi'an Summer Camp. In November 2025, 10 students participated in a spring camp at Northwest University in Xi'an.
Over the course of the faculty's existence, major projects have been implemented with the support of the Chinese side: on September 25, 2002, with the assistance of the Ministry of Education of the People's Republic of China, the Chinese Language Center was established; in 2019, with the support of the Press Office of the State Council of the People's Republic of China, a Chinese pavilion was opened at BSU; in December 2013, based on a cooperation agreement between the headquarters of the Confucius Institute (formerly the Office of the State Leading Group for the Dissemination of the Chinese Language Abroad) and BSU named after K. Karasayev with universities of the People's Republic of China, the "2:2 Educational Program for the Training of Linguists and Sinologists" was developed: students of the faculty were able to study on a grant basis at universities in the People's Republic of China; from 2013 to 2021, 128 students successfully completed this program.
Every year, at the initiative of the Kyrgyz-Chinese Faculty, the International Scientific and Practical Conference "Cooperation between Central Asian Countries and China through the Eyes of Youth" and an inter-university competition for second- to fourth-year students on Chinese phonetics are held. A quiz on Chinese history, culture, geography, politics, and writing, where students demonstrate their knowledge of China, is of great interest to first- to second-year students.
As cooperation between Kyrgyzstan and China deepens, the demand for highly qualified simultaneous interpreters is growing, while the existing training system does not yet fully meet the demands of the modern labor market. Therefore, the creation of a new department of "Theory and Practice of Simultaneous Interpreting" is urgent. The university has already approved the establishment of this department.
Kyrgyzstan had previously lacked comprehensive research in Sinology, so the creation of a Kyrgyz-Chinese research center at the university became urgent. Thanks to this, graduate students and postgraduates have begun conducting research on the Chinese language, culture, and philosophy. The center opens up new research areas for university education. We at BSU see the need for interdisciplinary research in Sinology, the development of new curricula, and the creation of conditions for integrating science into the economic and sociocultural development of Kyrgyz-Chinese relations.
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