A unique and moving moment unfolded in Almaty, bringing together the cultures of Kazakhstan and China. Jiang Wei, Consul General of the People’s Republic of China in Almaty, personally read one of the works of the great Kazakh poet, thinker, and educator Abai Qunanbaiuly in Chinese, DKNews.kz reports.
“Abai Qunanbaiuly is a great poet, thinker, and educator of the Kazakh people. He is also very well-known in China. This year we celebrate the 180th anniversary of his birth,” Jiang Wei said, addressing the audience first in Chinese, then in Kazakh.
The Consul General recited a poem in which nature’s metaphors intertwine with deep philosophical reflections:
Like a parrot bright, the butterfly in summer skies will play,
But when the blossoms fade, it too will drift away.
What does the soul require? Love’s warmth, the gift to feel,
A meeting by pure chance, a moment deep and real.
We’re all by time directed, led along its stream,
Yet who commands the ages, who shapes the timeless dream?
The wicked ride the tempest, to stir the world’s dismay,
But time will tame their fury and wash their power away.
These lines speak of life’s fleeting nature, of love and awareness, of how time governs every human destiny - and of the inevitable justice that catches up with those who try to bend the era to their own selfish ends.
The reading became a symbol of a cultural bridge between Kazakhstan and China. Many in the audience remarked that hearing Abai’s poetry in Chinese was a rare and special experience, offering a fresh perspective on his work.
The year 2025 promises to be rich in events dedicated to Abai’s anniversary. Presenting his poetry in different languages is one way to show that the legacy of the great Kazakh poet is close to the hearts of people all over the world.
