Central Asian History in Chinese: A Book Presentation in Tashkent

On May 19, 2026, Tashkent hosted an international academic meeting dedicated to the Chinese-language edition of Concise History of Kazakhstan, published by Silk Road Publishing.

The event brought together scholars, diplomats, educators, and cultural figures from Uzbekistan and China. The guest of honour was Professor Yang Shu (杨恕) — Director of the Institute of Central Asian Studies at Lanzhou University and translator of the book into Chinese. Among the participants were Bakhromjon Xaynazarov, Doctor of Historical Sciences, Head of the Department of World History; Sofya Gabrielyan, Doctor of Historical Sciences, Professor of the same department; and Asxat Biykuziyev, Associate Professor of World History at the National University of Uzbekistan. The Chinese delegation included Liu Xiaoyan (刘晓燕), Director of the Confucius Institute in Tashkent; Zang Hongyan (臧红岩), President of Beijing Silk Road Culture Development; and Dong Fuhua (董富华), Chinese language instructor at UZSWLU. Representatives of the Embassy of the People's Republic of China in Uzbekistan also attended.

The meeting was hosted and moderated by Iskandar Ergashov, Editor-in-Chief of Silk Road Publishing.
During the discussion, participants reviewed the current state of Central Asian historical research and shared perspectives on its relevance in today's geopolitical context. Particular attention was given to the obstacles hindering more open and in-depth study of the region's history, as well as new opportunities for international academic collaboration. Among the concrete proposals put forward was a joint initiative to publish books on the history of Uzbekistan in Chinese, with the participation of Silk Road Publishing.

At the close of the meeting, Professor Yang Shu signed copies of the book for the attendees as a memento.

The publication of Concise History of Kazakhstan in Chinese marks an important step toward bringing Central Asian history to Chinese-speaking audiences and strengthening humanitarian ties between the peoples of the region.