The Chinese higher education exhibition was held at Tashkent, Uzbekistan this week, co-sponsored by the China Scholarship Council (CSC), the Chinese Embassy in Uzbekistan, and the Ministry of Higher and Secondary- Specialized Education of Uzbekistan. 

Mr. Zhang Ning, Deputy Secretary-General of the CSC, said that they are devoted to promoting educational exchanges between China and other countries, and hope this exhibition can help recruit outstanding Uzbek students to study in China, which provides human resources support for China-Uzbekistan cooperation and development. 

This exhibition witnessed a large influx of visitors, showing an increasing interest in the Chinese education system among many Uzbek students.  

The exhibition includes 30 leading higher educational institutions from China, such as Tsinghua University and Wuhan University. During the event, some of the visitors shared their impressions of the exhibition and their plans for the future. 

Eighteen-year-old Shakhnoza Bakhromova, who studies at the Academic Lyceum of the Nizami Pedagogical University in Tashkent, said that nowadays, the Chinese language is becoming increasingly popular among young Uzbeks. 

She believes it is partly due to several products from China, ranging from clothing and shoes to electronics, that are entering the daily lives of the Uzbek people. 

"I want to get acquainted with Chinese universities here, get the necessary information and choose one of them for admission," Bakhromova said. "I am attracted to study in China." 

Amirkhon Norkhuzhayev, a third-year student at the Faculty of Sinology at the Tashkent State Institute of Oriental Studies, said he is willing to continue his studies in China, and learn international and Chinese law in the field of business. 

"Today, a lot of Chinese companies are operating in Uzbekistan, be it trade, production of goods or tourism," he said. "But here they encounter difficulties associated mainly with knowledge of the local language and legislation. I want to help entrepreneurs, businessmen of China and Uzbekistan in overcoming these problems." 

Li Meihua, dean of the College of International Education at China's Jilin University, informed visitors about the learning conditions, school accommodations, and scholarships. 

Founded in 1946, the university has established educational cooperation and exchange mechanisms with about 300 universities and research organizations from 39 countries. 

"In 2018, about 2,500 students from 115 countries, including from Uzbekistan, were accepted to Jilin University," said the dean. "Students from Uzbekistan are very hard-working. They study hard, (and) have good moral qualities. After our visit to Tashkent, new young people will join them." 

According to China's Ministry of Education, by the end of July, about 6,500 students from Uzbekistan were studying in Chinese universities. 

(With input from the Xinhua News Agency)

Cover image via VCG