conference of discussing Uzbekistan teaching was held Mar. 21 on Shanghai International Studies University (SISU)’s Hongkou campus to celebrate the 25^th anniversary of Sino-Uzbekistan diplomatic ties.

SISU University Council Chair Jiang Feng met with Agzamkhodjaev, Consul General of the Republic of Uzbekistan in Shanghai, during which the both sides reviewed a complete change brought by Sino-Uzbekistan diplomatic ties and shared experiences in teaching the Uzbekistan language and its culture.

25 years has passed since China and Uzbekistan established diplomatic ties, and it is historical moments that the two countries decided the next move. Specialists attending the conference exchanged ideas on where the relations would lead during the discussion session.

Jiang had been invited to visit Uzbekistan twice: one is for an academic seminar while the other is for witnessing the presidential election of Uzbekistan. He said: “Chinese and foreign cultures used to exchange in Uzbekistan thanks to its important location on the ancient silk road, and they become even more active today.”

Jiang also pointed out that SISU started cooperation with Uzbekistan in 2013 when a Confucius Institute was founded in Samarkand according to seven bilateral agreements signed by President Xi Jinping during his visit to Uzbekistan.

As the sponsor of the Confucius Institute, SISU has always been working closely with the Samarkand State Institute of Foreign Languages. Supported by diplomatic and educational institutions of the both countries, the Confucius Institute has played an an important role in promoting Chinese language and culture in Middle and Central Asia.

Jiang Feng emphasized that languages are the foundation, above which is spiritual communication, and then “One Belt and One Road” implementation. . He added that courses focusing on Uzbek and area country focused research are open at SISU’s School of Russian and Eurasian Studies, and SISU’s Center for Central Asian Studies has become one of the leading think tanks in China to research Central Asian issues.

Agzamkhodjaev appreciated SISU’s contribution to cultural and  educational communication between China and Uzbekistan. He added that deepening mutual understanding through higher education institutions cooperation remains crucial to the Uzbek government. He also pointed that the number of exchange students and postgraduates is growing steadily.

“China-Uzbekistan relationship is the exemplar of China’s peripheral diplomacy,” stated Bi Hongye, scholar from SISU’s Center for Central Asian Studies. With the closer commercial relationship between the two countries, Chinese tourists are endowed with visa-free travel to Uzbekistan. Bi suggested that China and Uzbekistan should further cooperate in fields, such as economics, trade, investmentand tourism development.

“The experience of establishing and maintaining Sino-Uzbekistan diplomatic ties can probably serve as a useful case for China to continue its diplomatic ties with middle-sized countries,” said Yang Cheng, scholar from SISU’s School of International Relations and Public Affairs. He laid much emphasis on Uzbekistan’s decisive role in facilitating the settlement of Afghanistan issue and steady development of Central Asian countries in a peaceful environment, suggesting that China should consolidate the strategic relationship with Uzbekistan unceasingly.

The conference was co-sponsored by SISU and the Uzbekistan consulate in Shanghai.  

The day of holding the conference coincided with NOURUZ which is a spring festival for many cultures of Middle and Central Asia to celebrate the renewed life of the Earth.

It is notable that the first Uzbek teaching and research office nationwide was set up in SISU in October, 2015. The Uzbek language major, which falls under SISU’s Department of Russian, is ready to welcome its pioneers. SISU has offered course of teaching the standard Uzbek for two semesters, targeting students enrolled in Shanghai-based higher education institutions.

SISU and Samarkand State Institute of Foreign Languages are now working together to compile a Uzbek-Chinese dictionary, and Uzbek textbooks will be used  among Chinese students. SISU also cooperated with several Uzbek universities to promote the teaching of Uzbek in China, aiming to cultivate multilingual talents capable of conducting area country focused research.

As a foreign student and voluntary language teacher, Musurmanov Khurshid indicated that he was greatly impressed by Chinese students’ passion in learning the Uzbek language. He said he hopes that SISU will establish an exchange program which will promote academic dialogues on a regular basis and help multilingual talents foster mutual understanding and international communication between China and Uzbekistan.

As an economically powerful member of the Commonwealth of the Independent States, Uzbekistan has played a decisive role in the peaceful development of Central Asia. With a more harmonious relationship between China and Uzbek during these years, the two countries established a comprehensive strategic partnership. The Uzbek government has supported China’s proposal of building the Silk Road economic belt together.