Kazakhstan tourism year in China will promote exchanges: Kazakh tourism minister

Kazakhstan tourism year, which was launched on Friday across China, is set to increase people-to-people exchanges and cross-border travel between the neighboring nations, said Kazakh Minister of Tourism and Sports Yermek Marzhikpayev.

As a close neighbor of China, Kazakhstan attaches great importance in promoting all-around ties with China, Marzhikpayev told China Global Television Network.

"Our countries and people have much in common in terms of tradition and culture. The Kazakhstan tourism year in China will effectively promote exchanges and cooperation between China and Kazakhstan. China is a comprehensive strategic partner of Kazakhstan. We are neighbors and have developed our friendship over generations, and the leaders of the two countries have good relations. All of this means we attach great importance to Chinese culture, Chinese language, and all areas that can build closer relations between the two countries," the minister said in an interview with China Global Television Network (CGTN) in Beijing on Thursday, one day ahead of the opening ceremony of the Kazakhstan tourism year in China.

Other recent efforts to promote tourism between the two countries include a mutual visa agreement.

From November 10 last year, Chinese and Kazakh citizens are allowed to stay in each other's country visa-free for up to 30 days, according to the visa waiver agreement between the two countries.

Yermek Marzhikpayev said the effort has paid off.

"At the end of last year, the visa-free stay period extended to 30 days, an increase from 10 days to 30 days. This is a boon to the development of bilateral relations and exchanges between the two countries. The number of tourists is on the rise year by year. Compared to 2022, about 300,000 Kazakh tourists visited China last year. This is a very positive development. The number of Chinese tourists visiting Kazakhstan increased 15 times to 400,000. Citizens can enjoy mutual visa exemption for 30 days, which has greatly boosted tourism," he noted.

Kazakhstan tourism year in China will promote exchanges: Kazakh tourism minister

⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠The first Kenya National Wushu Competition was held in Nairobi last Thursday, bringing together contestants from eight counties to showcase their skills in Chinese martial arts.

Students from primary, secondary and tertiary institutions competed in various Wushu disciplines. Top performers received gold, silver and bronze medals, as well as merit awards.

The competition was co-hosted by the Confucius Institute at Kenyatta University, the Kenya Kungfu Wushu Federation, and a Chinese electronics and media company StarTimes Group.

From graceful sword routines to explosive kicks and lightning-fast punches, Wushu combines athleticism, art, and centuries of tradition. 

Wushu artist Elvis Munyasya shared what drew him to the event.

"What inspired me a lot is action movies, the ones like Jackie Chan, Jet Li, and also there was a time I came across a video on YouTube. It was about Kungfu and the performance of Wushu and that's where I got inspired and started training Wushu," Munyasya said. 

For another Wushu artist Veronica Wambui, Wushu is as much about self-control as it is about physical skill.

"Like anger issues, you are told how to control it. For instance, you can't come here and insult me then I fight back. I will withhold myself or just leave you. So, there's a lot of discipline inside Wushu," Wambui said. 

Organisers hope this competition marks the beginning of a new chapter for Wushu in Kenya. 

"I think with this competition, more and more Kenyans will know Wushu and come to CI (Confucius Institute) to learn Wushu," said Zhou Xiaodong, director of the Confucius Institute at Kenyatta University.

He also believes it can help bring Kenya and China closer together. 

"I think with this, the two countries will strengthen ties and also for our CI, we will have a deeper relationship with the Kenya Kungfu Wushu Federation," Zhou said.

Kenya's first national Wushu competition gains popularity