Reference News Network, October 30 report (Text: Zhang Shuang)

The Sound of Reading at the Foot of the Tianshan Mountains

In September, the morning light in Karakul City filters through the gaps in the poplar leaves, shining on the windowpanes of a classroom adorned with Chinese knots. A dozen Central Asian teenagers sit straight, following their local teacher as they read word by word: "Hello, China." I stand at the back of the classroom, suddenly feeling a bit dazed—this rhythmic and melodic Chinese sound is so similar to those in Beijing's alleyway tutoring classes, yet it echoes in this small city in Kyrgyzstan.

The walls of this classroom are decorated with Chinese calligraphy works and watercolor paintings of the Great Wall. In one corner of the desk, students' workbooks are neatly arranged. A girl with a braid tells me that she fell in love with Chinese after watching the TV series "Langya Bang," and even started studying the costumes and historical background in the show. A boy wearing glasses imitates the fist-bowing gesture from Jackie Chan's movies, saying his dream is to go to China to study martial arts.

The founder of the Chinese language training center, Kubanekiebokova, hands me a worn copy of the "HSK Level One Standard Textbook." She recalls, "When I learned Chinese on my own ten years ago, I never imagined that Chinese would become a popular course among students and parents in Kyrgyzstan today."

Chinese Technology in the Cotton Fields

About 900 kilometers southwest of Karakul City, the cotton fields in Dangara, Tajikistan, are in full harvest season. Snowy cotton bolls contrast with the snow-capped mountains in the distance. Kayumov, a young local man who has been working for only three months, is excited. He graduated and came to work as a translator at the Sino-Tajik Agricultural Textile Industrial Park. "Young people no longer need to leave their hometown to seek opportunities; everyone in the locality takes pride in working at the industrial park."

Karim, a cotton farmer, is a witness to this change. He points to the cotton field and says感慨: "Before, the yield per mu was only around 100 kilograms, and after a hard year, you didn't earn much money. After the Chinese experts came, they taught us how to select seeds, irrigate, and prevent pests and diseases. Now, the yield per mu has reached over 400 kilograms." His words are filled with gratitude.

"I am grateful to the factory near my home for helping me realize my dream of becoming a professional woman," said Dafuratova, a sewing worker at the industrial park. She used to be a housewife, busy taking care of her children and doing housework, occasionally selling food at the market. After joining the industrial park, she not only learned textile and sewing skills but also began to self-study fashion design. This "teaching people to fish" model has made Chinese technology take root in this land, becoming a powerful engine for sustainable development in the area.

The Friendship Road Overcomes Obstacles

At the construction site of the second phase of the China-Tajikistan highway, excavators and heavy trucks keep roaring. The project production manager Jiang Shulin uses both Chinese and Tajik to direct operations. Below the cliff, the Pyanj River roars with muddy sand, and the Afghan shepherds on the other side silently watch the bustling construction site here.

"Our China-Tajikistan highway is the only land route from Tajikistan to China. While ensuring continuous construction, we must also maintain the existing road's smoothness, which is a huge challenge for us," said Jiang Shulin.

The construction of the highway has not only improved transportation conditions but has also continuously changed the lives of residents along the route. Mr. Kishvar opened a small shop next to the highway. Initially, he only sold some local specialties, but now his shelves have products from Guangzhou and Tsingtao beer. "The Chinese friends brought business opportunities and friendship," he smiled.

The deep connections among these three segments gradually become clear: the Chinese language tutorial class carries the longing for cultural dialogue, the agricultural cooperation industrial park embodies the concept of sustainable development, and the construction of the China-Tajikistan highway demonstrates the Eastern philosophy of "opening roads through mountains and building bridges over rivers."

At dusk in Samarkand, I saw the ancient Silk Road station ruins overlapping with the modern China-Europe train station in the twilight. For thousands of years, Eastern and Western civilizations have collided and blended in Central Asia, forming a colorful culture and unique traditions. Today, the people here choose their future with Chinese textbooks, reshape the economic framework through industrial cooperation, and connect the world through infrastructure—China and Central Asia's "closeness" has long surpassed physical distance, becoming a warm embrace of mutual learning and cultural exchange in the new era.

On September 22, in Karakul City, Issyk Kul Province, Kyrgyzstan, Kubanekiebokova (right front) celebrated the first anniversary of the Chinese training center with her colleagues and students. (Photo by Li Renzi)

Original article: https://www.toutiao.com/article/7566911375705719338/

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