Xi's seven stories of binding friendship

4. Precious horse breed — from Xi's remarks at the International Akhal-Teke Horses Association Special Conference and China Horse Culture Festival on May 12, 2014, in Beijing

Akhal-Teke, a world-renowned fine horse breed, is native to and the pride of Turkmenistan. The horse has become a messenger of and witness to the lasting friendship between the peoples of the two countries.

Chinese people love Akhal-Tekes, which arrived in China along the ancient Silk Road more than 2,000 years ago.

Akhal-Teke is called hanxuema or hanxuebaoma in Chinese, which means "horse that sweats blood", and is valued for its metallic-looking coat, speed and endurance. In China, the horse was first recorded in Shiji, or the Historical Records, written by Chinese historian Sima Qian.

Since the two countries established diplomatic relations in 1992, Turkmenistan has sent several of the horses to China as state gifts.

5. Manas epic — from Xi's signed article published in Kyrgyzstan on June 11, 2019

In an article signed by Xi, published ahead of a state visit to Kyrgyzstan, the president mentioned an opera the China National Opera House was going to perform in Kyrgyzstan.

The opera, sung in Chinese, is based on the epic tale of Manas, a chieftain of the Kirgiz people.

The performance allows the cultural treasure shared by people in both China and Kyrgyzstan to shine brilliantly once again, and strikes a strong note on the traditional friendliness between the two countries, Xi wrote.

Listed as an intangible cultural heritage by UNESCO, Manas is a treasure of Kirgiz culture and one of the three major heroic epics of China's ethnic minority groups. Containing stories about Manas and his offspring, the epic is very popular in the Xinjiang Uygur autonomous region and some Central Asian countries, including Kyrgyzstan.

6. Foreigner, but not an outsider — from Xi's speech at the virtual summit commemorating the 30th anniversary of diplomatic relations between China and Central Asian countries on Jan 25, 2022

Ismail Daurov came from Kazakhstan to study in Xi'an, Shaanxi province, in 2013, and spent nine years in the city.

He was known for actively volunteering for the COVID-19 response in Xi'an at the end of 2021, when he was studying for his master's degree at the Shaanxi University of Chinese Medicine.

Daurov's words — "I am a foreigner, but I am not an outsider" — touched the hearts of many in China, Xi said.

Daurov, also known by his Chinese name Ma Wenxuan, gained his master's degree and now runs a clinic in Kazakhstan.

7. The ophthalmologist — from Xi's signed article published on the Kazakhstanskaya Pravda newspaper on Sept 13,2022

In the signed article published ahead of his state visit to Kazakhstan, Xi mentioned the story of Saulebek Kabilbekov, an ophthalmologist from Kazakhstan, to demonstrate the deep friendship between the peoples of China and Kazakhstan.

Kabilbekov, who went to Daqing Ophthalmology Hospital in 1998 to provide technical assistance at the invitation of the hospital, worked there for 24 years and treated nearly 200,000 Chinese patients.

A versatile expert, Kabilbekov was the first to conduct several types of eye surgeries, including posterior scleral reinforcement, in the city of Daqing, Heilongjiang province, according to the hospital.

Called "Doctor Bieke" by local people, Kabilbekov has traveled across the western regions of Heilongjiang, providing free diagnosis and treatment for farmers, giving lectures to other medical workers and promoting eye hygiene knowledge among students.

China Daily- Xinhua