On March 27, a briefing was held in Ashgabat by Ji Shumin, Ambassador Extraordinary and Plenipotentiary of the People’s Republic of China to Turkmenistan. Alongside other topics, the diplomat and media representatives focused on issues of strategic partnership in the fields of education and humanitarian cooperation.
Responding to a question from a correspondent of “GA”, Ji Shumin emphasized the unprecedented growth of interest in studying the Chinese language in Turkmenistan, as well as the Turkmen language in China.
Today, the educational infrastructures of both countries are actively adapting to societal demand. According to the head of the diplomatic mission, nine higher education institutions in Turkmenistan have incorporated Chinese language studies into their curricula, ten secondary schools offer Chinese language courses, and approximately 6,500 Turkmen students are currently pursuing higher education directly in China.
The Ambassador added that this process is reciprocal. In China, interest in culture and the state language of Turkmenistan is also increasing. This is driven by the growing demand in both countries’ labor markets for specialists proficient in both languages.
To further support students and professionals, the Chinese side has initiated the establishment of a specialized Chinese Language Proficiency Testing Center. The project is planned to be implemented at the Dovletmammet Azadi Turkmen National Institute of World Languages.
“This step will provide more convenient conditions for Turkmen citizens studying the Chinese language and will give new momentum to our cooperation in the field of education,” noted the diplomat.
Particular attention in bilateral relations is also being paid to practical training. The two sides are currently working on creating new platforms for professional education.
“One of the key projects in this direction is accelerating the construction of the first ‘Luban Workshop’ in Turkmenistan—an innovative educational platform aimed at training technical specialists of international standards,” said Ji Shumin.
Concluding the discussion on the educational agenda, the Ambassador reaffirmed China’s readiness to further expand cultural exchange. Strengthening ties between the youth of the two countries remains a priority, as it will create a solid foundation for the long-term prosperity of China–Turkmenistan relations.
