The ninth meeting of the Subcommittee on Humanitarian Cooperation was held in Beijing, where delegations from Turkmenistan and the PRC discussed key steps for the development of human capital and cultural exchange. The meeting was chaired by the deputy ministers of culture of both countries and concluded with the signing of a final Protocol outlining plans for the coming years. This was reported on the official website of the Ministry of Education of Turkmenistan.

The central topic of the discussions was education. Currently, over 7,000 Turkmen citizens are studying at Chinese universities, highlighting the scale of academic cooperation. To improve the quality of workforce training, the parties proposed implementing a preliminary evaluation system for candidates and strengthening the qualifications of Chinese language instructors. The creation of joint laboratories and competency centers in priority scientific areas was also discussed.

The cultural program continued with a visit to the National Museum of China. Special interest was drawn to an exhibition dedicated to the historical role of the horse in the development of civilization. Turkmen diplomats observed a direct parallel with their national traditions: the image of the horse as a symbol of strength and progress in China resonates with the global heritage of the Ahalteke horses. Central Asia's famous horses have long served as a connecting link in the contacts between Eurasian peoples.

Concluding the visit, the delegation explored ancient Chinese history — from Neolithic art to the famous terracotta figures of the Qin era. Such deep cultural dialogue and joint educational projects demonstrate Turkmenistan’s and China’s readiness to further strengthen their traditionally friendly ties.

ORIENT