Grand Opening Ceremony of the Sculpture Composition "Dialogue of Great Thinkers: al-Farabi and Confucius" Held at Astana International University

Today, Astana International University hosted the grand opening ceremony of the sculpture composition "Dialogue of Great Thinkers: al-Farabi and Confucius." This artwork is a special gift from the President of the Republic of Kazakhstan, Kassym-Jomart Kemeluly Tokayev, to the branch of Beijing Language and Culture University (BLCU) based at Astana International University.

The sculpture composition reflects the two countries' deep respect for the heritage of Eastern thinkers. The author of the work is Wu Weishan, a world-renowned Chinese sculptor and Director of the National Art Museum of China.

The sculpture composition was officially unveiled by the Minister of Science and Higher Education of the Republic of Kazakhstan, Sayasat Nurbek, and the Ambassador Extraordinary and Plenipotentiary of the People's Republic of China to the Republic of Kazakhstan, Han Chunlin.

The ceremony was also attended by Professor Zhang Baojun, Vice-President of BLCU; Sun Yan, Advisor to the Chairman of the All-China Association of Urban Sculptors and representative of the sculpture's author, Wu Weishan; Beibit Baimagambetovich Mamraev, Chairman of the Public Council; representatives of the Halyk Foundation; as well as the leadership, faculty, and students of AIU and the BLCU branch.

Guests viewed a personal exhibition by artist Kazakbay Azibekuly dedicated to the figures of the Alash movement, as well as the exposition of the Museum of the East. The guests were particularly impressed by unique exhibits reflecting centuries-old trade and cultural ties between Kazakhstan and China dating back to the 7th century, including valuable numismatic artifacts from the Tang dynasty.

Minister of Science and Higher Education of the Republic of Kazakhstan Sayasat Nurbek noted: "Confucius and al-Farabi. Although we did not live at the same time as these thinkers, we share a great deal in common. Proof of this is our aspiration for knowledge, wisdom, and humanity. Despite the fact that diverse social groups live in a polycultural society, for centuries we have strived to achieve a common goal. I hope that in the future we will learn a great deal from our partner, China, which possesses unprecedented academic experience. Study as deeply as possible, and exchange knowledge as much as you can," he emphasized, highlighting the deep spiritual connection and educational path of the two nations, as well as the high importance of education for youth.

Ambassador Extraordinary and Plenipotentiary of the PRC to the RK Han Chunlin stated: "This shared pursuit of knowledge and moral values allowed Confucius and al-Farabi to transcend the boundaries of time and space, building a spiritual bridge between China and Kazakhstan."

Professor Zhang Baojun, Vice-President of Beijing Language and Culture University, dwelt on the significance of the heritage of Eastern sages: "al-Farabi is a great thinker whose heritage has become the spiritual treasury of the Kazakh land, while Confucius is the founder of the Chinese philosophical tradition and a symbol of China's spiritual culture. The fact that their sculptures now stand side by side symbolizes not only a dialogue of sages, but also the deep spiritual harmony between the civilizations of Kazakhstan and China."

The organizer of the event, President of Astana International University Serik Aztaevich Irsaliev, expressed gratitude to the arriving guests, as well as appreciation for the support shown by the Minister of Science and Higher Education of the RK, Sayasat Nurbek, and the Ambassador Extraordinary and Plenipotentiary of the PRC to the RK, Han Chunlin. He noted that this gift from the President of the Republic of Kazakhstan is the highest honor in the university's history.