Adili Kaukenov has studied in Shandong, Beijing and other places, and has a deep sense of China's development and changes. Since returning to Kazakhstan, he has been engaged in Chinese studies and is now the chief expert of the Kazakh Presidential Institute for Strategic Studies. He recently gave an exclusive interview to Chinese media, talking about his path of sinology and the characteristics of Sinology research in Central Asia, and analyzing Kazakh-Chinese relations, people-to-people cooperation and mutual learning between Central Asia and China from the perspective of sinologists, and sharing the inspiration brought by the cultural wisdom of Central Asia and China to the era of "great changes".
Interviewee profile
Adili Kaukenov is a sinologist, chief expert of the Institute for Strategic Studies of the President of Kazakhstan, and an expert on international issues. He focuses on the study of Chinese philosophy and loves Chinese culture such as Chinese martial arts and chess. He Xi has published more than 100 articles on the development of Kazakh-Chinese relations and participated in the writing of many books on China's diplomacy and social and economic development. He is an observer of Chinese society and a communicator of Chinese culture.
Reporter: You studied in Shandong, Beijing and other places, which have a long history and culture, what influence did it have on you to become a sinologist and carry out sinology research?
Kaukenov: I was interested in history, geography and oriental culture since I was in secondary school. Kazakhstan is located in the middle of Asia, but it does not know much about the ancient civilizations of the East. After graduating from secondary school, I entered the Kazakh State Pedagogical University, where I chose the Faculty of History and Oriental Studies. At that time, China had achieved rapid development, and I was very interested in information about China.
I have traveled to many cities in China and touched the diverse cultural life, and Shandong, Hangzhou, Xi'an and other provinces and cities have allowed me to see China's profound historical civilization and cultural context. So after graduating from university, I chose to go to Shandong Normal University to continue my Xi. Shandong is the hometown of the ancient Chinese thinker and philosopher Confucius, and the place where Confucian culture is inherited. Shandong people are hospitable, tolerant and helpful. My Chinese teachers and classmates have had an important impact on my learning Xi Chinese culture, history and language.
When I returned to Kazakhstan after graduation, I still did not give up my love for China, which also made me deeply aware that understanding China needs to integrate into China's reality. So in 2015, I went to China again to study for a master's degree at Peking University, where I continued to deepen my Xi in cultural studies, law and political science.
Nowadays, the study of China is not only my professional choice, but also what I really love to do, and it has long been integrated into my daily life.
Adili Kaukenov experiences Chinese culture in China in the winter of 2023 Photo courtesy of the interviewee
Reporter: Who are the ancient Chinese philosophers you admire and why?
Kaukenov: I admire Confucius and the Confucian philosophy he represents. The traditional Chinese spiritual culture with Confucianism as the core is a people-oriented ethical culture. Confucianism is a philosophy of accession to the WTO, a kind of spiritual nourishment, people can go beyond the categories of religion, race and culture, and find their own answers and inspiration to philosophical questions from Confucianism. Through the study and reference of Confucianism, it provides some testimony to the diversity and unity of world philosophy.
In my opinion, what makes Chinese philosophy special is that it does not only exist in traditional Chinese culture and the history of philosophy. The concept and thought of the integration of Chinese philosophy and Chinese culture are profound and vivid, and have attracted many Chinese philosophy lovers and researchers around the world.
Chinese philosophy is a treasure house of world civilization, which not only has a great impact on the shaping of the ecology of Asian civilization, but also plays an important role in human understanding of the world and cultural exchanges between China and the West.
Reporter: In the process of exchanges and mutual learning among civilizations, what role can sinology and sinologists play?
Kaukenov: The study of Sinology in China and the West can enable both sides to enrich themselves in the reflection of different cultures, which will help each other's cultural identity.
Sinology is the study of China by foreigners, and it is the observation and reflection of the world outside China on China. The study of Sinology requires profound subject knowledge, and on this basis, in-depth dialogue between different civilizations can be carried out, so that the world can better understand China through the study of Sinology. Among them, sinologists can give full play to and make use of the advantages of cross-cultural resources, and become "ferrymen" for mutual learning between different cultures in various countries.
In 2016, 32 outstanding young sinologists from 24 countries, including the United States, Russia, and Kazakhstan, participated in the "Young Sinologists Training Program" in Xi'an
I would also like to point out that with the advancement of the times, the concept of "Sinology" has expanded to include the traditional category of Sinology. The research objects of "Chinese Studies" are no longer limited to traditional Chinese language, history and culture, but have expanded to Chinese politics, economy, science, diplomacy and other fields. As a comprehensive study of China's past and present, the study of "Chinese Studies" can enhance respect and understanding of different civilizations and cultural forms.
Reporter: What is the current situation of the development of Sinology in Kazakhstan and Central Asia, and how is it different from that of Sinology in Europe and the United States?
Kaukenov: In recent years, Central Asian countries are actively participating in the construction of the Belt and Road Initiative, and the revival of the Silk Road is becoming a reality, which has led to an increasing interest and demand for Chinese studies in Central Asian countries.
In Kazakhstan, Sinology is still a young discipline, which is the biggest difference from Sinology studies in Europe and the United States. Compared with European and American institutions of higher learning, which have long regarded Sinology as a formal discipline of the humanities, the development of Sinology in Kazakhstan still faces problems such as shortage of professional institutions, expert resources, and research materials, which are also common in Central Asian countries.
But at the same time, youth also has its advantages. Sinologists in Kazakhstan and even in Central Asia have become more open, inclusive, and active in their ideological views, and their perspectives and methods of looking at problems may be more diverse. Our researchers are learning to "see" China with their own eyes, rather than relying more on Western media, as they did before.
Reporter: As a Sinologist, what do you think about the people-to-people cooperation between Central Asia and China, and how can there be mutual learning between civilizations between Central Asia and China?
Kaukenov: Kazakhstan is an old and young Central Asian country. As the descendants of nomadic peoples, the Kazakhs have retained the characteristics of steppe culture and civilization, that is, freedom, openness, and reverence for righteousness. At the same time, influenced by historical and political factors, Kazakhstan has similarities with Russia and the West in terms of social culture, customs and etiquette, and is also similar to Chinese culture, but there are differences, and the diversified cultural pattern has shaped Kazakhstan's cultural tolerance.
As a scholar of China, I believe that education is very important in the cultural cooperation between Kazakhstan and China, and that in the future it is necessary to add joint universities, science laboratories and exchange programs. In addition, learning Chinese is very popular among young people in Central Asia, which is a good trend and will create a new exchange platform for cooperation between the two countries in various fields, from tourism to high technology.
Kazakhstan and China are neighbors of each other, and coordinated development is a direct way to achieve common prosperity. It is also very necessary to strengthen cultural exchanges, establish a good cultural environment, enhance the cultural attractiveness of the two countries, enhance mutual trust, and dispel misunderstandings and suspicions.
Reporter: Today's world is undergoing major changes unseen in a century. In your opinion, what ideas in Central Asian and Chinese culture can inspire to resolve conflicts and enhance understanding?
Kaukenov: Central Asian countries and China have set an example of cooperation with the world.
At present, the international social order is changing, the regional pattern is becoming more complex, and the people of some countries are living in fear of military conflict.
Against this background, the relationship of trust between Central Asian countries and China has become a guarantee of regional security and cooperation.
Many Central Asian countries and China are members of the Shanghai Cooperation Organization. The Shanghai Cooperation Organization (SCO) has developed into one of the most authoritative trans-regional organizations and an effective mechanism for comprehensively addressing security challenges, ensuring sustainable economic development and deepening dialogue among civilizations, which has created a genuine atmosphere of friendship and trust for all parties. The "Shanghai Spirit" advocated by the Organization provides a vivid example for promoting the progress of human civilization, and the friendly and cooperative development of member states will also optimize the political landscape of the Eurasian continent.
Source: China News Service K25