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
Lanzhou, March 29 (Xinhua) — During the Spring Festival (Chinese New Year) holidays this year, Jahan Saryev returned to her homeland of Turkmenistan with a suitcase full of exquisite cultural and creative goods dedicated to the Year of the Horse. Each of these dolls and ornaments was imbued with the distinct flavor of Chinese New Year.
"While handing out gifts, I shared the stories behind them with my family and friends. From the convenience of mobile payments to the diversity of cultural and creative goods, life in China is changing rapidly," shared she, who teaches at the Institute of International Education at Lanzhou Jiaotong University (Lanzhou, Gansu Province, Northwest China).
Jahan's connection to China goes back a long way. "I learned about Confucius, the Great Wall, and tea back in high school. That's when I became interested in China and wanted to visit the country in person," she said. She enrolled at Lanzhou Jiaotong University in 2008, becoming one of the first Turkmen students to study there.
Although China was still relatively new to Jahan at the time, she quickly adapted to life in Lanzhou thanks to the hospitality of the locals and the welcoming atmosphere at the university. Under Jahan's influence, her two younger sisters also enrolled at Lanzhou Jiaotong University. After completing their studies, they worked at the China National Petroleum Corporation (CNPC) branch in Turkmenistan, maintaining close ties with China.
According to Jahan, the first Turkmen students to study in China, including herself, numbered only about a dozen. To date, Lanzhou Jiaotong University has trained over 200 graduates from Turkmenistan, who have developed strong friendships with China.
In 2019, Jahan became an international staff member at Lanzhou Jiaotong University, responsible for international student management. She also teaches Chinese to international students at the university's Institute of International Education, becoming the first international student at the university to receive a teaching qualification certificate for Chinese as a foreign language.
"For students from Central Asia and Russia, Russian is our connecting link, and for students from Europe and Africa, English unites us," said Jahan, noting that her knowledge of different languages and understanding of cultures allows her to build bridges of communication with the world in her classes.
"I live with international students at the university and interact with them often. I discovered that students starting to learn Chinese are shy about speaking it, so I offered to help them," she said. "I was an international student myself, so I understand this better than anyone."
In 2022, Jahan received the Dunhuang Prize from the Gansu Provincial People's Government, which recognizes foreign experts who have made outstanding contributions to the province's economic development, science and education, and human resource development.
“I’m very proud of it,” she noted.
In addition to teaching, Jahan also manages the Book House for Foreign Professionals at the Institute of International Education at Lanzhou Jiaotong University. Using this platform, she regularly hosts book club meetings, where faculty and students from different countries can share their reading experiences.
“I have lived and worked in Lanzhou for many years and have witnessed the city’s rapid development firsthand,” Jahan said, expressing hope that she could serve as a bridge between Turkmenistan and China and facilitate exchanges between the two countries in the fields of culture, education, and training. -0-
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