Young Kyrgyz reflect on their education in China

BISHKEK - Many young Kyrgyz dream of studying abroad, with Chinese universities appearing on the radar in recent years.

Students who studied at Chinese universities talked about how an education in China bolstered their career and life prospects.

Bektur Papakov studied at Jilin University in Changchun in Northeast China from 2016 to 2019.

"For the first year, we studied the language, and for the rest of the time, I studied for a master's program in project management," says Papakov.

He says that he decided to go to China because it was a new challenge, a new mentality and a new language, adding China's future growth was another draw.

At the same time, Papakov says he faced difficulties due to the language barrier and cultural differences, but the university was there for support.

Papakov notes that after studying, he returned to Kyrgyzstan and was able to open his own company.

"Now, I have my own company in Kyrgyzstan. I think that the three years that I spent in China, the experience and knowledge I gained helped me a lot when opening a company," he says.

Meanwhile, Erkeayim Sulaymanova says that a diploma from a Chinese university gave her a significant advantage when applying to other universities and in the job market.

Sulaymanova says she studied at Beijing's University of International Business and Economics.

"I chose China as a place to study together with my parents. The decision was made due to the country's culture and good conditions," she says.

Sulaymanova emphasizes that her experience living and studying in China has enriched her worldview.

"Now, I am studying for a master's degree at the Diplomatic Academy of the Ministry of Foreign Affairs in Bishkek," Sulaymanova says. "I also work in an oil company, and when I applied for a job, a diploma from China was taken into account."