Educational cooperation between China and Turkmenistan is developing with great success, driven by the personal support and high priority alignment demonstrated by the top leadership of both nations. The Ambassador Extraordinary and Plenipotentiary of the People's Republic of China to Turkmenistan, Xi Shumin, shared these insights with journalists during an official ceremony held at the Chinese Embassy in Ashgabat. The event marked the presentation of the "Chinese Ambassador’s Scholarship," an initiative established by the diplomatic mission to encourage talented youth mastering the Chinese language. For the 2026 cycle, the first 20 recipients—comprising 10 university students and 10 school pupils—were selected based on a highly competitive language contest hosted at the Dovletmammet Azadi Turkmen National Institute of World Languages.

According to the diplomat, more than 10,000 Turkmen citizens are currently pursuing higher education in China, while the enrollment of Chinese students within Turkmenistan’s academic framework is experiencing steady growth. Ambassador Xi Shumin emphasized the profound mutual interest between the two nations in exploring each other’s languages, cultures, and traditions, framing this educational exchange as a direct reflection of the comprehensive development of bilateral strategic relations. Encouraging the scholarship winners, the Ambassador quoted a traditional Chinese proverb: "Learn Chinese, and you will find friends all over the world," while extending his warmest wishes for their future academic journeys.