BISHKEK, Oct. 9 (Xinhua) -- An academic event titled "Bamboo and Wooden Slips into Central Asia" was held recently in Bishkek, the capital of Kyrgyzstan.
The event, jointly organized by China's Northwest Normal University and Kyrgyz National University (KNU), brought together more than 200 local faculty members and students.
Speaking at the opening ceremony, Tian Shu, director of the Institute of Bamboo and Wooden Slips Studies and the Institute of Central Asian Studies, said the event seeks to present China through bamboo and wooden writing slips and promote the spirit of the Silk Road, marking a new contribution to people-to-people and cultural exchanges between China and Kyrgyzstan in the new era.
Sofya Apaeva, director of the Kyrgyz-Chinese Research Institute at KNU, said that friendship between Kyrgyzstan and China has a long history. She noted that the bamboo and wooden writing slips on display bear witness to the longstanding friendly ties between the two countries and are of great significance for further deepening cultural exchanges under the Belt and Road Initiative.
The event consisted of three parts, including an exhibition of bamboo and wooden writing slips, expert explanations, and a discussion with experts. Nearly one hundred replica bamboo and wooden writing slips related to the Silk Road, dating back to the Han Dynasty (202 BC to 220 AD), were on display. Meanwhile, bamboo and wooden writing slip experts from Northwest Normal University explained the shapes and structures of ancient writing slips, the content recorded on them, the historical details and cultural elements they contained, and recounted touching stories that occurred along the ancient Silk Road.
Experts from both countries also held in-depth discussions on topics such as using bamboo and wooden writing slips to tell Silk Road stories and deepening exchanges and cooperation in cultural communication, scientific research, and talent cultivation.
"I saw bamboo and wooden writing slips in Lanzhou, northwest China's Gansu Province. This event gives Kyrgyz youth an opportunity to see numerous valuable documents that bear witness to the longstanding friendship between the peoples of China and Central Asian countries," said Aliyar Almamatov, who studied at Northwest Normal University.
He also expressed his willingness to contribute to promoting cultural exchanges between Kyrgyzstan and China. (Contributed by Jiang Youlin)
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