Today’s youth have a different worldview, thinking, and interest in life and study. Young people enter local and foreign universities to obtain modern knowledge and professions and become qualified specialists. To realize the interests and aspirations of young men and women, the government pays great attention to establishing cooperation with developed countries in education. The People’s Republic of China is a close partner in this direction.

Over the past 31 years, Uzbekistan – China relations have been consistently developing since establishing diplomatic ties. In recent years, thanks to the pragmatic policy of the heads of the two states, the process of comprehensive strategic partnership has been brought to a qualitatively new level. And the Belt and Road project, by strengthening ancient friendly ties, creates the basis for ensuring their continuity.

Branches of several Chinese universities have been opened in Uzbekistan. Many of our young people study in China.

In 1993, agreements on mutual recognition of academic degrees were signed between China and Uzbekistan, and in 1993, an agreement on cooperation in education was signed. The signed documents became the legal basis for increasing the number of international students for the exchange of scholarships, supporting and stimulating collaboration between universities, and establishing the exchange of teachers.

According to the Chinese Embassy in Uzbekistan, at present, almost 4,000 young people from Uzbekistan are studying in universities in China.

In 2008, China established the Shanghai Cooperation Organization Scholarship. Since then, along with the organization’s member countries, these scholarships have also been provided to students from Uzbekistan. This, in turn, contributes to the active development of cooperation in education.

With facilities and opportunities for international students, many young people from Uzbekistan choose to study in China, where government scholarships are available to 100 students.

Today, China officially cooperates with 18 universities in Uzbekistan, including the Tashkent State University of Oriental Studies, the Uzbek State University of World Languages, the University of World Economy and Diplomacy, the Namangan Institute of Engineering and Technology, and the Bukhara State University.

Naturally, many young people from China study in Uzbekistan based on the student exchange program, and their number is increasing yearly. The deepening partnership between the universities of the two countries is evident in the ties and regular dialogues between Lanzhou University, Northwestern University and Tashkent State University of Oriental Studies, the Beijing International Studies University, Xi'an International Studies University, Northwestern University and the “Silk Road” International University of Tourism and Cultural Heritage, Northwest University of Political Science and Law and Tashkent State University of Law.

President Assistant of the Beijing International Studies University, Professor Zou Tongqian, holds the position of Vice-Rector of the “Silk Road” International University of Tourism and Cultural Heritage.

A memorandum was signed between Tianjin Maritime Vocational College and Tashkent State Transport University. A joint organization of the LuBan workshop is envisaged to train qualified personnel in vocational education.

It should be noted that the Chinese language is complex and not easy to learn. Therefore, for young people who want to master this foreign language, all the necessary conditions have been created in the country.

There are two Confucius Institutes in Uzbekistan (in Tashkent and Samarkand). More than 10,000 specialists have already been trained in these institutes. This contributes to raising the level of studying the Chinese language in the country, enriching young people’s ideas about China.

In our country, the Chinese language is included in the list of 8 priority foreign languages to be studied. To increase the interest of boys and girls in learning a foreign language, the Chinese Language Bridge competition is held, and the Chinese Bridge summer camp is organized. All the actions taken serve the deep study of foreign languages and the strengthening of friendship between peoples.

Guzal Sattorova, UzA