Translation. Region: Russian Federal
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
TIANJIN, Sept. 1 (Xinhua) — "China is not only a place of study for me, but also a second home," said Diana Zhaanbaeva from Bishkek, the capital of Kyrgyzstan, who lived with her mother in Guiyang, southwest China's Guizhou Province, when she was 10 and is now studying software engineering at Tianjin University in northern China.
In 2015, Diana began her “intercultural” life in China. Suddenly finding herself in a completely unfamiliar linguistic and cultural environment, she admits that that period was for her “a time of confusion, but also of new discoveries.” To help Diana adapt to life in China faster, her mother decided to transfer her from an international school to a regular high school, where Diana began to study with Chinese peers.
It was at this school that her “rigorous immersion in Chinese” began: memorizing the poem “Guan Ju” /“Meeting the Bride”/, dictating from memory the poem “Longing for Homeland,” and writing 800-character essays in Chinese. At first, her essays were only 100 characters long, but over time, her written work became more and more coherent and expressive. Once, she even wrote a 1,000-character essay and received high marks for it.
She especially loved Yu Guangzhong’s poem “Longing for Homeland” because it reminded her of her homeland. “Longing is a stamp on an envelope, a ticket for a ship that sails. For me, it is an emotional connection between two countries,” she shared, adding that learning Chinese not only helped her integrate into Chinese society, but also allowed her to redefine her identity: “I am both Kyrgyz and half-Chinese.”
The girl’s life is intertwined with the cultures of Kyrgyzstan and China, which has created a unique “mix of beauty” of her intercultural experience. Together with her mother, she celebrates traditional Kyrgyz holidays and cooks national dishes of her native country. At the same time, they make dumplings and cook traditional Chinese dishes on the eve of Chunjie /Chinese New Year according to the lunar calendar/. Her New Year’s table is decorated with Chinese “jiaozi” and “baozi”, and Kyrgyz beshbarmak and pilaf.
After taking the university entrance exams, Diana chose Tianjin University, which is considered the first modern university in China, to enroll. Software engineering became her first choice over other majors, as she hopes to change the future with technology.
Studying software engineering is not easy for Diana, but she has learned to find joy and enjoyment in it. She believes that this specialty is not just a career choice, but her way of keeping up with the times. “Science and technology are changing the world, and I want to contribute to the cooperation in technology between China and Kyrgyzstan through my efforts,” she says.
In her spare time, she enthusiastically helps international students who have just arrived in China. She teaches them Chinese, shows them how to use WeChat Pay, and helps them plan travel itineraries for their desired trips.
As a young member of a generation that grew up at the intersection of Chinese and Kyrgyz cultures, Diana has a special understanding of the relationship between the two countries. She still remembers the excitement she felt in late 2024 when she learned about the launch of the China-Kyrgyzstan-Uzbekistan railway project. “This railway will connect my two homelands and give new impetus to trade and cultural exchanges between the two countries,” Diana says.
The SCO summit is being held in Tianjin from August 31 to September 1. “The summit will allow the dynamic and uniquely charming city of Tianjin to meet the world,” says Diana, a student in Tianjin, proudly.
"Kyrgyzstan is cordial and hospitable. China is developing rapidly. I hope that the two countries will expand cooperation in such areas as science and technology, education, ecology, agriculture and other areas. This will open up more opportunities for the youth of both countries," said Diana, who is unwaveringly confident that in the future, the friendship between Kyrgyzstan and China will become even stronger and deeper. -0-
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