By People Daily online:
On Aug. 4, 2026, the Fifth Silk Road Friendship Ceremony was held in Bishkek, the capital of Kyrgyzstan.
The event was jointly hosted by the China International Culture Exchange Center, Global People magazine, and the Publicity Department of the CPC Shenzhen Municipal Committee; co-organized by the Xinjiang International Economic and Cultural Development Center and Shenzhen Media Group; and organized by Dolon Group LLC. It marked the first time that the ceremony had been held outside China.
Salkyn Sarnogoeva, deputy minister of culture, information and youth policy of the Kyrgyz Republic, delivers a welcoming address at the Fifth Silk Road Friendship Ceremony, in Bishkek, Kyrgyzstan, on August 4.He Jianzhong, vice chairman of the China International Culture Exchange Center, and Xu Lijing, deputy editor-in-chief of People’s Daily, delivered video remarks. Salkyn Sarnogoeva, deputy minister of culture, information and youth policy of the Kyrgyz Republic; Li Hua, minister-counselor of the Embassy of the People’s Republic of China in the Kyrgyz Republic; Zhou Fengjian, executive council member of the China International Culture Exchange Center; Lü Hong, editor-in-chief of Global People magazine; and Zeng Xianglai, executive deputy head of the Publicity Department of the CPC Shenzhen Municipal Committee, attended the event.
The event brought together more than 200 participants, including 10 groups of this year’s Silk Road Friendship Ambassadors from various countries, representatives of previous Silk Road Friendship Ambassadors, and friends from China and abroad who support Belt and Road cooperation.
Bishkek is situated in the Chuy Valley. A major hub along the ancient Silk Road, it is today becoming an important bridge connecting East and West and fostering exchanges among civilizations. Friends from China and abroad gathered in the city to share Silk Road stories of friendship, cooperation, and stronger people-to-people bonds forged through Belt and Road cooperation.
Kanaiym Baktygulova, former Kyrgyz ambassador to China and president of the Kyrgyz Association of Sinologists, first became fascinated with China after reading Sima Qian’s “Records of the Grand Historian” as a young woman. In 1991, she came to China to study at Liaoning University. After graduating and returning home, she joined Kyrgyzstan’s Ministry of Foreign Affairs and devoted her life to the cause of Kyrgyzstan-China friendship.
the Belt and Road, he has also independently produced short videos and shared them on social media.
“I have always believed that a single report, documentary or interview may not change the world overnight, but it can change how one person sees another country. Countless such changes in perception will ultimately come together as understanding, trust and friendship,” he said.
Zhyldyzbek Uulu Nurgazy, known by his Chinese name Wang Yao, is from Kyrgyzstan. Fluent in Kyrgyz, Russian and Chinese, he works as an interpreter for the China-Kyrgyzstan-Uzbekistan railway project team. During the project, he shared meals and accommodation with the Chinese team. His diligence and willingness to take on difficult tasks without complaint along the railway’s mountainous route earned him the respect and trust of both the Kyrgyz and Chinese sides.
Nurgazy recalled that a local elder once told him at a construction site: “You are not only building a railway; you are also building a road between people’s hearts.”
“Those words touched me deeply and strengthened my conviction that the Belt and Road is never a cold line on a map, but a bridge connecting hearts and leading to better lives for ordinary people,” Nurgazy said.
Juan Alberto Álvarez Andrade was born and raised in Chancay, Peru — a place home to fishing, agriculture and tourism. He was elected mayor of Chancay four times and helped oversee the planning and construction of the Port of Chancay, a major infrastructure project.
“We have always done everything in our power to move the project forward, because we know that an opportunity for development like this is too important to miss or squander,” he said. “We will seize this opportunity to strengthen the bonds of friendly cooperation, introduce new technologies and resources, and improve people’s well-being.”
“We salute everyone who has contributed to Belt and Road cooperation,” said Liu Shilei, director and vice president of Shenzhen Energy Group. “It is the quiet dedication of countless people that has infused this ancient route with new vitality.”
Sheradil Baktygulov, a Silk Road friendship ambassador of the Third Silk Road Friendship Ceremony, attended this year’s ceremony and delivered a speech.
These stories, spanning mountains and seas, have made the Belt and Road cooperation more tangible and accessible to people. They have also injected fresh momentum into strengthening people-to-people ties and advancing the building of a community with a shared future for mankind.
During the event, artists from Kyrgyzstan presented three captivating performances. Models from China and Kyrgyzstan jointly showcased the China–Kyrgyzstan Fashion Show: Xiangyunsha on the Silk Road, a runway presentation blending tradition with the future. The launch ceremony for “Shenzhen: A Silk Road Friendship City” was also held during the event. Meanwhile, People’s Cultural Creative presented an exhibition featuring its signature media-themed cultural and creative products alongside items inspired by traditional Chinese culture.
Source:- Belt and Road News Network (BRNN)
Reported By:- Z.H Sardar (Country Media)
