Commemorative Event Held in Honor of the 85th Anniversary of Sinology Department Veteran Zhaksylyk Samituly

On May 22, 2025, a commemorative gathering was held at the National Library in Almaty to mark the 85th anniversary of the prominent Kazakh writer and veteran scholar of the Department of Chinese Studies — Zhaksylyk Samituly.

Between 1959 and 1979, the writer endured political repression in China, labeled a “nationalist” during the era of leftist ideology. In 1993, he relocated to Kazakhstan, where he continued his literary and academic career. He served for many years as a dedicated teacher at the Department of Chinese Studies, Faculty of Oriental Studies at Al-Farabi Kazakh National University.

The significant event at the National Library was attended by Erzhan Kerimbaev, Head of the Department of Chinese Studies, who paid tribute to his former teacher and colleague. In their speeches, distinguished guests emphasized that Zhaksylyk Samituly’s literary legacy has yet to receive full scholarly attention and called for greater efforts to promote and study his works.

The gathering also featured the official launch of a newly published 7-volume collection of Zhaksylyk Samituly’s works, which was formally presented to readers.