2024, September 10
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NU Unveils Plaque to Mark Xi Jinping's Historic Speech
2024, September 10
Share this articleNU unveiled a memorial plaque on Sept. 9 symbolizing the cooperation between Kazakhstan and China.
On September 7, 2013, President of the People's Republic of China (PRC) Xi Jinping visited NU to deliver a special lecture to students. During this lecture, he announced the launch of the now-strategic Belt and Road Initiative, which today unites more than 150 countries and 30 international organizations.
In honor of Xi Jinping's historic speech, a commemorative plaque was installed at the door to NU's Senate Hall, where the Chinese president gave the lecture. During his speech at the opening ceremony, the PRC Ambassador to Kazakhstan Zhang Xiao emphasized the deep relations between the two countries.
"Kazakhstan plays a unique and irreplaceable role in the high-quality development of the Belt and Road. I would like to say to the young students present today: you are the most energetic and full of dreams. The future of China-Kazakhstan relations depends on the youth. I hope you can fully understand the high level and special value of bilateral relations and actively devote yourself to the great cause of China-Kazakhstan friendship," the ambassador said.
NU Provost Dr. Ilesanmi Adesida highlighted in his speech that this initiative has helped to establish ties in many areas, including education.
“Since 2013, the university has become a point of convergence for Kazakhstan and China. The number of Chinese students coming to NU increased. We also cooperate with three Chinese universities: Peking University, Shanghai University, and Tsinghua University. We hope that today's gesture will strengthen Kazakhstan-China relations and attract even more Chinese students to us,” Dr. Adesida noted.
Over the past 11 years, the Belt and Road Initiative has significantly strengthened Kazakhstan-China relations. A notable highlight was the visit of 200 NU students to China in the summer of 2014 at the invitation of President Xi. Today, the Senate Hall has become a popular spot for Chinese tourists and media alike.
