In Almaty, Media Workers’ Day was marked not only with official congratulations. A meeting at the Consulate General of the People’s Republic of China turned into a meaningful conversation about journalism, trust, culture and the growing importance of Kazakhstan-China relations in the lives of both countries, DKNews.kz reports.
On July 1, the Consulate General of the PRC in Almaty hosted a solemn reception dedicated to Kazakhstan’s Media Workers’ Day. The event brought together representatives of Kazakhstani media, diplomats, public figures and authors who, in recent years, have been telling stories about China not only through politics and economics, but also through culture, travel, literature and personal experience.
The guests were welcomed by the organizers of the meeting. Among the honored participants were Su Fangqiu, Consul General of the PRC in Almaty; Li Yuyan, Deputy Consul General; Zhang Zite, Counselor for Trade and Economic Affairs; and Dias Nurakyn, Press Secretary of the Akim of Almaty Region.
Journalism as a Bridge Between Countries
The key moment of the official part was the speech by Su Fangqiu, Consul General of the PRC in Almaty. He congratulated Kazakhstani media representatives on their professional holiday and emphasized the special role of journalism in strengthening mutual understanding between Kazakhstan and China.
“Media workers are witnesses of the era, guides of public opinion, disseminators of ideas and defenders of justice. You consistently uphold high professional standards, demonstrate deep humanism, outstanding journalistic skill and objectivity,” Su Fangqiu said.
According to the diplomat, Kazakhstani journalists have for many years been telling stories about the traditional friendship, mutually beneficial cooperation and shared destiny of the two countries.
“On behalf of the Consulate General of the PRC in Almaty and the Government of China, I express my sincere gratitude to you for your work,” he said.
These words did not sound like a mere diplomatic courtesy. For Kazakhstan, China today is no longer a distant, abstract major neighbor. It is trade, transport corridors, tourism, technology, education, business, cultural trips and thousands of human stories that need to be told in a clear and honest language.
China That Wants to Explain Itself to the World
Su Fangqiu devoted a significant part of his speech to modern China and the 105th anniversary of the founding of the Communist Party of China, which was marked on July 1. The diplomat spoke about the path the country has taken over the past century: from a period of weakness, fragmentation and external pressure to the status of one of the world’s largest economies.
“Who fundamentally changed the situation in which the state was devastated, the people were deprived of livelihoods, subjected to arbitrariness and endured countless hardships? This was done by the great Communist Party of China!” Su Fangqiu said.
He also highlighted China’s achievements in the economy, industry, high-speed railways, 5G, mobile payments, automobile and shipbuilding, industrial robots and civilian drone production.
However, the main emphasis was not only on numbers. Su Fangqiu spoke about the Chinese society’s confidence in the future and the country’s long-term development course.
“The Chinese people, satisfied with today’s life, look to the future with confidence. It is precisely this firm belief in the future that forms the basis of the people’s high trust in the Communist Party of China,” the Consul General said.
The Kazakhstani Part of the Evening: Books, Travel and a Personal View
After the official speeches, the meeting moved into a warmer and more informal format. Guests took part in a quiz about China’s history, modern development and Kazakhstan-China relations. The winners received memorable gifts — panda-themed bookmarks.
One of the most interesting parts of the evening was the literary program. Kazakhstani journalists and authors spoke about Chinese books that helped them see the country from a new perspective.
Vladimir Prokopenko, a journalist at Tengrinews.kz, spoke about Liu Cixin’s trilogy Remembrance of Earth’s Past, which includes the famous novel The Three-Body Problem. According to him, it is not just science fiction, but a profound reflection on civilization, fear, the future and humanity’s place in the universe.
Liliya Iglikova, Editor-in-Chief of the Eurasia-24 TV channel, dedicated her speech to one of China’s four great classical novels — Dream of the Red Chamber. She noted that the work helps readers gain a deeper understanding of Chinese culture, traditions, family relations and ideas about destiny.
The program continued with travel blogger Yerassyl Mirasbek. He presented his original film about life in China and spoke about the country’s culture, history, martial arts academy and journeys across different regions. This format felt especially close to today’s reader and viewer: China appears here not only as a state and an economy, but as a country of people, routes, cities, habits and personal discoveries.
Why Such Meetings Matter
Su Fangqiu separately stressed that China does not view its modernization as a path toward hegemony.
“Chinese modernization is not a path where ‘a strong country inevitably seeks hegemony,’ and even less is it a threat to the world,” he said.
According to the diplomat, China will continue to promote the idea of a community with a shared future for humanity and uphold the principles of peace, development, cooperation and mutual benefit.
Special attention in the speech was also paid to Kazakhstan. The Consul General noted that China is closely following Kazakhstan’s modernization process and regards Kazakhstan as a reliable partner.
“Our countries are like-minded and reliable partners that always support each other on the path of development,” Su Fangqiu said.
He also quoted a Kazakh proverb:
“If your neighbor is wealthy, your own meal will not dry up.”
That was the main idea of the meeting: the neighborhood between Kazakhstan and China is not only about geography. It is about the economy, security, culture, media, education and human mutual understanding, which is more important than any strategic document.
A Friendship Told by People
At the end of his speech, Su Fangqiu wished Kazakhstan new success on its path toward building a Just Kazakhstan and said China was ready to further strengthen partnership with its Kazakhstani friends.
“We are ready to continue moving forward confidently, shoulder to shoulder with our Kazakhstani friends, in the name of building a fairer world, common prosperity and a brighter future for our peoples,” he said.
He concluded his remarks with warm words in Kazakh and Chinese:
“May the friendship between China and Kazakhstan live forever!”
“中哈友谊万岁!”
That evening at the Consulate General, people spoke about big politics, China’s history and strategic partnership. But perhaps the most important thing was something else: relations between countries become much easier to understand when they are discussed not only by diplomats, but also by journalists, editors, bloggers, travelers and readers.
This is how big diplomacy turns into a living conversation — about neighbors, the future and trust.
