A nexus of travel, education and bilateral relations

"In Uzbekistan, I met many young people brimming with curiosity about China. They asked me many questions about China, such as whether learning Chinese would help them get a job or what they should do if they want to study or work in China," Qian said.

"These young people, about 18 or 19 years old, are at a pivotal juncture, deciding whether to work abroad and where to go. Among their top choices, including Russia, the United States and China, the latter is becoming an increasingly alluring destination."

Qian said this curiosity has sparked enthusiasm for learning Chinese, but there was a lack of local learning resources to support such endeavors. He hopes that both official and unofficial initiatives can bridge this gap to foster mutual understanding.

In recent years, there has been a surge in initiatives aimed at fostering closer ties between the youth of Central Asia and China. There are 13 Confucius Institutes across Central Asia, and many Chinese universities are partnering with their counterparts in the region.

For example, East Kazakhstan Technical University has collaborated with Tianjin Vocational Institute to set up a Luban Workshop — a platform for hands-on learning and technical skill development. Similarly, the establishment of a branch of Xi'an's Northwestern Polytechnical University at Al-Farabi Kazakh National University in Almaty exemplifies the deepening academic ties between China and Central Asia.