Learning Chinese in vogue among Kyrgyzstan's youth

Students try Chinese calligraphy at the Confucius Institute at the Osh State University in Osh, Kyrgyzstan, Sept. 22, 2026. (Xinhua/Jiang Youlin)

As Kyrgyzstan's ties with China have deepened, learning Chinese has become increasingly popular among young people in the Central Asian country.

The Confucius Institute where Zakirova studies has provided Chinese language courses for about 17,000 people since its establishment in 2013. Nearly 600 in total have won scholarships to study in China.

Some graduates have returned to join the institute. Among them is Gulperi Kadyrbekova.

One of the institute's first students, she became a teacher there in 2019.

In her early days of teaching Chinese, what frustrated her most was the failure to immediately answer the students' questions about such broader topics as Chinese society or economy, she said.

Hence, her extensive preparations for each class -- invaluable training and experience -- have brought her to career success today.

Kadyrbekova takes pride in her students' successes, such as passing language examinations and earning overseas study opportunities. "This year, the first group of students I taught graduated from Chinese universities. Some have already found good jobs. I am so happy for them," she said.