Abai’s legacy has once again taken center stage in cultural dialogue. In Beijing, Kazakh and Chinese experts compared the ideas of the great Kazakh thinker with the legacy of Confucius and discussed how Abai’s works continue to strengthen cultural ties between the two countries, DKNews.kz reports.
The roundtable “Abai – A Great Personality,” dedicated to Abai Day, was held at the Kazakhstan Cultural Center in Beijing. It brought together representatives of government agencies, academic and research communities, writers, translators, and cultural figures from Kazakhstan and China.
Intellectual Parallels Between Abai and Confucius Discussed
One of the most notable topics of the meeting was the intellectual parallels between the legacies of Abai Kunanbaiuly and Confucius.
Scholars and experts from the two countries discussed Abai’s philosophical and literary heritage, his ideas of moral self-improvement and universal human values, as well as his concept of “Tolyk Adam”, or the “Complete Person.”
This perspective takes the discussion of Abai beyond commemorative events, placing his ideas in dialogue with one of China’s most influential philosophical traditions.
Flowers Laid at Abai Monument in Beijing
The event began with a flower-laying ceremony at the monument to Abai Kunanbaiuly in the Chinese capital.
Participants included Shakhrat Nuryshev, Ambassador of the Republic of Kazakhstan to China, representatives of China’s Ministry of Foreign Affairs and Ministry of Culture and Tourism, renowned Chinese sculptor Yuan Xikun, writer and translator Akbar Mazhit, writer and artist Feng Yishu, educator Gulmira Amandykova, as well as scholars, experts, and university representatives from both countries.
Nuryshev emphasized that Abai’s significance extends far beyond Kazakh literature.
“For Kazakhstan, Abai is not only the founder of modern Kazakh written literature. He is a symbol of the nation’s spiritual development, the pursuit of knowledge, humanism, honest work, and openness to the world,” the Ambassador said.
Abai Readings in China Expand Their Format
The Embassy of Kazakhstan holds annual Abai Readings in Beijing, which have become a regular part of cultural dialogue between the two countries. This year, the format was expanded with a dedicated roundtable involving Kazakh and Chinese specialists.
Particular attention was given to the contribution of Chinese scholars, translators, writers, and artists to the study and promotion of Abai’s works in China.
Through translation and academic research, the works of the Kazakh thinker have reached audiences beyond Kazakhstan and become part of the cultural exchange between the two countries.
Abai’s Legacy Strengthens Kazakhstan–China Cultural Ties
The meeting also addressed the practical side of cultural diplomacy, including stronger cooperation between the academic, university, and creative communities of Kazakhstan and China.
Participants supported further promotion of Abai’s legacy and broader interaction between researchers and cultural figures from the two countries.
For Kazakhstan, this format offers a way to present the country in China not only through economics and official diplomacy, but also through its literature, philosophy, and intellectual tradition. In Beijing, Abai remains one of its most recognizable figures.
Earlier, we reported on how Abai Day was celebrated in Beijing, with his works performed in Kazakh and Chinese.
