Translated with AI
On April 20, the first season of the 2026 "Talking about the Book of Kings in Chinese" competition concluded at the Confucius Institute at Tajik National University. More than 80 guests, including faculty and students, as well as representatives of various organizations, participated in the event.
Among the event's participants were Han Dongqi, Secretary General of the Union of Chinese Compatriots in Tajikistan; Yan Hui, Director of the China-Tajik Medical Diagnostic Center; Chen Changping, General Manager of the China Southern Airlines Representative Office in Dushanbe; Shakhnoza Ravshanovna Khodjamurodova, a graduate of the Confucius Institute at Tajik National University and Deputy Head of the Development Department of the Civil Aviation Agency of Tajikistan, Head of the Chinese Language Department at the Russian-Tajik (Slavic) University; Imomzoda Makhina, Tajik Director of the Confucius Institute at Tajik National University; Sun Jing, Chinese Director; and other guests.
The Book of Kings, a classic work of Persian-Tajik literature, reveals the historical arc and spiritual core of the Persian people through a comprehensive narrative, exerting a significant influence on Tajik literature. In 2025, a new edition of this work was published in the country, and in 2026, Tajik President Emomali Rahmon ordered that every family receive a copy of the book and promoted national-level competitions for its interpretation. To promote cultural exchange between China and Tajikistan, the Confucius Institute at Tajik National University organized this competition.
The competition launched on March 27 and brought together 40 participants from the Confucius Institute and its study centers. Following qualifying rounds held at the main campus and its branches, 13 participants advanced to the finals.
At the beginning of the event, Director Imomzoda Makhina welcomed the guests and noted that the competition is not only a platform for showcasing talent but also an opportunity to showcase the results of their Chinese language studies and exchange ideas. She encouraged the participants to feel confident and demonstrate their abilities.
Following the announcement of the competition, all 13 finalists took turns presenting speeches on the plots, characters, and cultural content of the Book of Kings. The participants demonstrated a confident command of the Chinese language, logical presentation, and the ability to vividly convey the work's content.
Wang Luochen from Kafravlat Secondary School won first place. Second place was shared by Lu Xing'an from the Faculty of Eurasian Languages at Tajik National University and Lin Siyuan from the Confucius Institute Main Department. Third place was taken by Li Haoran from the International University of Foreign Languages, Yanan from the Russian-Tajik (Slavic) University, and Manasi Sabzakova from the Confucius Institute Main Department.
The jury members praised the participants' performances, noting the need for further improvement in pronunciation, intonation, and logical coherence. The students were encouraged to continue their studies and improve their Chinese language proficiency.
It is noted that the competition served as a practical example of developing cultural exchange between China and Tajikistan. The event allowed for the assessment of students' proficiency and, by using the Book of Kings as an important work of Tajik culture, fostered a deeper interaction between the Chinese language and national culture, as well as stimulated students' interest in learning the language and presenting their country's culture internationally.
