In the afternoon of October 20^th, 2021, the opening ceremony of Silk Road Institute co-hosted by Henan University and Kyrgyzstan National University was held online simultaneously in 502 meeting room of Building Youlan, Zhengzhou campus of Henan University and the President’s meeting room, Kyrgyzstan National University. The attendees at the ceremony were Kupeshov Bolotbek, Minister of Education and Science of the Kyrgyz Republic, Adyl Zhunus, a member of Kyrgyz parliament, Sadykov Kanat, President of Kyrgyzstan National University, academician Arakeev Asein Abdramanovich, President of Sino-Kyrgyz Friendship Association, Jinhua HUO, Vice Governor of Henan Province, Yuhua DIAO, Deputy Director-General of the Education Department of Henan Province, Bing LI, Deputy Director-General of Foreign Affairs Office of People’s Government of Henan Province, Keping LU, Secretary of the Party Committee of HENU, Zhen TAN, Vice President of HENU, as well as some other provincial officials and HENU leaders. The ceremony was presided over by Sadykov Kanat.

At the beginning of ceremony, all attendees stood up and sang the national anthems of Kyrgyzstan and China respectively, and then certain distinguished attendees delivered speeches to express congratulations to the establishment of Silk Road Institute, and extended best wishes to its future development.

Kupeshov Bolotbek indicated that there was far-reaching significance for us to name the co-operated college “Silk Road Institute”. The silk road has kept our two countries intimately linked for centuries. Our friendship and cooperation has developed in a positive and sustainable way. The collaboration based on “the Belt and Road Initiative”, is seen as one of the most fruitful and promising undertakings. The founding of the Silk Road Institute marks a new era of the collaboration in educational area between Kyrgyzstan and China. The operation of the Silk Road Institute will help elevate the international communication to a higher level both educationally and culturally for both sides, and will tighten the friendship of the two nations; moreover, it will be a new chapter for the long-lasting educational cooperation between both sides.

Jinhua HUO expressed warm congratulations to the establishment of the Silk Road Institute, and she said that Kyrgyzstan is one of the most important cooperative partners in central Asia to Henan, and it is the country where the first Henan Overseas Economic and Trade Zone at national level is located. She hoped the Silk Road Institute would play an essential and leading role in talents cultivation to provide intellectual support for both nations, and would develop into an important platform for strengthening the bonds between the two countries. She said Henan province government would provide quality services and create excellent environment to support the Silk Road Institute for its high-quality, sustainable and characteristic development, and the government will constantly implement the Openning Education Policy and strengthen educational cooperation and humanity communication, and then promote overseas educational cooperation between Chinese and foreign universities in a healthy and sustainable way.

Keping LU felicitated the Silk Road Institute sincerely on behalf of Henan University. He indicated that the Silk Road Institute founded by Henan University and Kyrgyzstan National University marked a new chapter in deepening cooperation and enhancing the friendship between China and Kyrgyzstan universities. The Silk Road Institute will become a model of educational cooperation for both sides. Henan University will fully support the Silk Road Institute and “the Belt and Road Initiative”under the principles of “equality, mutual benefit, student-centered education and quality”. He hoped the Silk Road Institute could provide a channel for sharing stories about China, Henan and Henan University and make contribution for China-Kyrgyzstan educational and cultural exchange as well as local economic and social development, and serve as a bridge of China-Kyrgyzstan people-to-people exchange.

Adyl Zhunus said the Silk Road Institute will help build up friendship between Kyrgyzstan and China. The establishment of the institute is another new cooperative fruit in the field of education for both sides, and the institute would play a significant role in the field of Kyrgyzstan education.  

Sadykov Kanat expressed that the Silk Road Institute is the representation of Kyrgyzstan-China cooperation in the fields of culture and humanities. The co-founding Silk Road Institute is an important step in implementing “the Belt and Road Initiative” for the two universities. Kyrgyzstan National University’s collaboration with Henan University in founding the Silk Road Institute marked a new chapter in its 90 years history. Sadykov indicated that the Silk Road Institute will make great contributions and play a key role in the development of Kyrgyzstan National University.

Zhen TAN, elected as president of Silk Road Institute board (founding committee), said that the opening and unveiling ceremonies of Silk Road Institute ended successfully thanks to great support and attention from the relevant leaders of the two sides. She hoped Silk Road Institute will operate legally, accomplish teaching and managerial tasks and then cultivate outstanding inter-disciplinary students that can make contributions to their own nations.

During the ceremony, the 1st leadership group of the Silk Road Institute was formed upon the discussion and agreement of Kyrgyzstan National University and Henan University. Subai Anarbeka was appointed as the dean of the Institute, and Liang Jianzhong was appointed as the executive dean. Sadykov Kanat and Tan Zhen jointly signed the Articles of the Silk Road Institute. Kupeshov Bolotbek and Adyl Zhunus then unveiled the plaque of the Silk Road Institute.

The co-founding of the Silk Road Institute by Henan University and Kyrgyzstan National University is an important step in the implementation of “the Belt and Road Initiative” in terms of education. It will enhance the participation of Henan University and even the Henan Province in “the Belt and Road initiative”, accelerate the progress of educational open-up and improve international cultural and educational exchanges, accumulate experiences in international talents cultivation model, and facilitate the integration and complementation of educational resources.