Prospective graduate student Rustambek Kyzy Zhazgu and aspiring fashion designer Aizhan Beishebaeve, both from Kyrgyzstan, have found more than just a home in China’s eastern coastal province of Shandong, pursuing their dreams and helping to build bridges of friendship between China and their homeland.
Born in a village called Kyzly-Jar in the valley of southern Jalal-Abad region, Zhazgu first learned about the ancient Chinese philosopher and educator Confucius (551 B.C.-479 B.C.) from a book when she was eight.
Twelve years later, she made it to Confucius' hometown -- Zibo City in Shandong. During her stay in Zibo, Zhazgu met many enthusiastic teachers and friends who helped her study Chinese.
Now preparing for the upcoming graduate school entrance exam, Zhazgu thinks that Chinese is a beautiful language and hopes to become a bridge connecting the people of China and Kyrgyzstan.
"I want to stay in Shandong. Thanks to the Belt and Road Initiative, many Chinese people, especially people from Shandong, have come to my hometown to build roads and bridges. I also want to be a bridge -- a bridge between our two countries," she said.
Beishebaeve, Zhazgu's classmate, has also been studying Chinese for years. She was accepted by five Chinese universities, giving her the opportunity to choose the one that best suits her desired major.
"I really want to stay in Shandong, but I want to study fashion design, and there aren’t any suitable universities for international students here. So I’ll have to leave for a while. When I first came to China, I just wanted to learn Chinese. I remember my teacher invited me to participate in an event, and that day I saw traditional Hanfu clothing for the first time. From that moment, I fell in love with fashion design. So I feel that I’ve found my dream here in Shandong," she said.
Kyrgyz students chase dreams in Shandong, build bridges of friendship
Japanese Prime Minister Sanae Takaichi's political stunts both at home and abroad cannot whitewash Japan's World War II (WWII) aggression, but instead expose the schemes of the country's far-right forces to incite bloc confrontation and promote remilitarization, says a China Media Group commentary published on Sunday.
An edited English version of the commentary is as follows:
In recent days, Takaichi has faced fierce criticism both domestically and internationally.
Her political stunt of kneeling in front of the Tomb of the Unknown Australian Soldier to lay flowers at the Australian War Memorial in Canberra during her visit to Australia further exposed her multiple political calculations to the international community.
Choosing to kneel in front of a tomb in Australia, Takaichi was not regretting for Japan's aggression and atrocities during World War II.
This act not only reveals the distorted world outlook of Japanese politicians, but also exposes their attempts to mislead public opinion, whitewash the crimes of WWII aggression, instigate bloc confrontation, and push for military buildup.
From "fawning diplomacy" during her U.S. visit in March to the recent kneeling show during her visit to Australia in May, Takaichi has been trying to cultivate a friendly image towards the West.
Geopolitically speaking, Japan's far-right forces are trying to expand their military and breach from the restraints of the pacifist constitution by exaggerating external threats. To this end, they are making every effort to exploit geopolitical conflicts and draw neighboring countries, especially Western countries, into bloc confrontation.
Since the end of WWII, Japanese leaders have never apologized to the people of victim countries such as China, the Republic of Korea, and the Democratic People's Republic of Korea. Many Japanese politicians have even tried every means to justify the war crimes.
In particular, Takaichi has questioned the 1995 Murayama Statement, denied the Nanjing Massacre, visited the notorious Yasukuni Shrine annually for many consecutive years, and revived military rank titles during WWII, such as "taisa."
On the issue of Japan's history of aggression, Takaichi's insidious move cannot deceive the world.
Takaichi's political stunts both at home and abroad are a provocation against WWII victim countries in Asia and other regions.
This cannot conceal Japan's remilitarization attempt or the reality that " neo-militarism" is spreading and becoming a threat.
All countries that have suffered from Japanese militarist aggression should remain highly vigilant and united, and work together to safeguard the outcomes of WWII victory, so that historical tragedies never repeat themselves.
Takaichi's political stunts cannot whitewash Japan's history of aggression, remilitarization attempt: commentary
