As the Global Times reporters journeyed through Kazakhstan to uncover its growing bond with China, we were struck by the vibrant wave of “Chinese fever” sweeping this Central Asian nation. Walking the streets of Astana, reporters often meet locals warmly greeting with a hearty “ni hao” – “hello.” Learning Chinese language has become a passion here – look no further than the Confucius Institute at L.N. Gumilyov Eurasian National University, where over 15,000 students have eagerly embraced the language, building bridges to a shared future.
Even the Kazakh President, Kassym-Jomart Tokayev, who lived in China for eight years and speaks fluent Chinese, reflects this trend.
During recent interviews in Astana, we felt firsthand how learning Chinese has become a gateway for locals to explore Chinese culture and a vital tool for career growth and self-fulfillment.
“I’m so glad I learned Chinese,” said Aisha, a 40-year-old Kazakh who recently switched from one Chinese company to another with a better offer as a translator. Years ago, she studied Chinese for just three months, and since then, she’s never struggled to find work, with Chinese firms eager to hire her. “Back when I started, no one foresaw how tight China-Kazakhstan economic ties would become. Now, everyone believes our cooperation will only grow,” she told the Global Times.
Data backs this up: In 2024, bilateral trade hit a record $43.8 billion, with booming cooperation in new energy, auto manufacturing, and e-commerce driving a surge in demand for Chinese language skills, according to China’s Ministry of Foreign Affairs.
Learning Chinese has grown easier too. Five Confucius Institutes offer tailor-made courses, while branches of the Northwestern Polytechnical University and the Beijing Language and Culture University have opened in Kazakhstan. Commercial Chinese language schools are sprouting, and Chinese companies investing here provide locals with opportunities to learn the language and culture.
At the Confucius Institute at the L.N. Gumilyov Eurasian National University, the Global Times reporters noticed a message board where students, ahead of this year’s Spring Festival, shared their dreams – many writing “I want to visit China” or “I want to study in Cina.”
Dariva, a Kazakh girl whose Chinese name is Fang Qing, joined a summer camp in Northwest China’s Xi’an in 2024. That experience, still vivid in her mind, has solidified her plan to study in China after high school. “My future lies in the friendship between Kazakhstan and China,” she said.
Nurali Irsaliyev, Executive Director of the Research Institute of the New Eurasian Land-Sea Transport Corridor at the International University of Astana, has spent years studying at the Beijing Language and Culture University and the University of International Business and Economics.
“My time in China was for more than just language learning – I met inspiring people, from Chinese locals to global talents, broadening my horizons and exposing me to new cultures and mindsets,” he shared. Noting similarities and differences in thinking between the two cultures, he’s dedicated his career to bridging these gaps, fostering better understanding and cooperation between China, Kazakhstan, and other Central Asian entities.
For Yang Lei, the Chinese director at the Confucius Institute at the L.N. Gumilyov Eurasian National University, the evolving surroundings reflect deepening ties – Chinese supermarkets and restaurants have sprung up nearby, creating a “Chinese cultural circle.” Since the visa-free policy between China and Kazakhstan took effect in November 2023, the institute’s inquiry lines have been buzzing.
A Chinese teacher at the institute, Ding Hang, told the Global Times that more students are asking for recommendation letters to apply to Chinese universities.
Beyond career prospects, many are drawn to China out of genuine interest in its culture. In Astana’s parks, martial arts enthusiasts invite Confucius Institute teachers to teach them Chinese, eager to delve deeper into Chinese Kung Fu.
Over our brief stay in Astana, we saw that this “Chinese language fever” reflects both the unique allure of Chinese culture and the mutual affinity fostered by the permanent comprehensive strategic partnership between China and Kazakhstan.
As a local Chinese translator told the reporters, “We’re good neighbors and friends – we should know each other better, shouldn’t we?”
