Translation. Region: Russian Federal
Source: People’s Republic of China in Russian – People’s Republic of China in Russian –
Source: People’s Republic of China – State Council News
ASTANA, June 15 (Xinhua) — The Belt and Road Initiative has strengthened academic and cultural exchanges between China and Kazakhstan, laying a solid foundation for deeper regional cooperation, Chang Yong-pan, president of the Kazakhstan Institute of Management, Economics and Strategic Research (KIMEP), told Xinhua in an exclusive interview.
“The Belt and Road Initiative promotes Kazakhstan’s economic development and regional integration. At the same time, the prospects for Chinese-Kazakh exchanges look promising,” he noted.
Over the past decade, KIMEP has hosted delegations from more than 100 universities in China. In 2018, the university established a joint research center with Beijing Normal University to promote academic dialogue.
“Since KIMEP’s founding, we have educated 159 Chinese students. We are proud of our role in strengthening ties with China,” Chang Yong Pan emphasized.
According to him, academic exchanges are developing thanks to high-level cooperation. In 2024, more than 15 thousand Kazakh students studied at Chinese universities.
The KIMEP President recalled that after the introduction of a visa-free regime at the end of 2023, the flow of tourists from China to Kazakhstan increased by 66 percent, and the number of Kazakhstani tourists in China increased by 31 percent.
“The arrival of the first tourist train from Xi’an to Almaty in June was an important milestone. I am optimistic about the prospects for cultural and humanitarian cooperation,” he said.
Chang Yong-ban noted that he has high hopes for the 2nd China-Central Asia Summit, which will be held in Astana. According to the Xinhua source, the 2023 summit in the Chinese city of Xi’an has yielded significant results, and further cooperation should focus on finance, green development, healthcare and digital innovation.
“The successful model in Central Asia can serve as a model for other regions. Maintaining peace and prosperity here can be an example for the entire world,” he added. –0–