Members of the research team of the project completed a scientific trip to Shanghai.

In the second half of October 2025, associate researchers of the Department of Chinese Studies, Faculty of Oriental Studies of Al-Farabi Kazakh National University — PhD D.B. Dauen, PhD M.B. Asyl, and senior lecturer A.M. Nurzhaeva — conducted an academic research visit to Shanghai, People’s Republic of China. The trip was carried out within the framework of the scientific project AP27511021 “The Evolution of the Intensity of China’s Cultural Diplomacy Toward Kazakhstan: Opportunities and Challenges.”

The visit consisted of two major components. From October 18 to 24, researcher D.B. Dauen participated in an international conference organized by the World Sinology Center, engaging in scholarly discussions with sinologists from around the world. At the plenary session, he delivered a presentation titled “The Development of Kazakh Sinology and Its Influence on Cultural and Educational Relations Between Kazakhstan and China.” He also presented an overview of the current state of Chinese studies in Kazakhstan and discussed potential areas of international cooperation. For his contribution to organizing the first Central Asian Sinology Forum, he received an award from the World Sinology Center.

From October 25 to 31, the visit continued at East China Normal University (ECNU). At the Center for Kazakh Studies and the Faculty of International Relations, the Kazakh researchers held several academic meetings, familiarized themselves with the university’s ongoing projects, and discussed cultural diplomacy, humanitarian exchanges, and regional cooperation between Kazakhstan and China.

During the trip, the researchers worked extensively with the CNKI academic database, ECNU library collections, and Shanghai-based research institutions, gathering new literature and analytical materials for the project. They also took part in the roundtable “Promoting China–Kazakhstan Humanitarian Relations in the New Era,” where issues of cultural diplomacy and academic cooperation were discussed.

The meetings with ECNU resulted in plans for joint seminars, academic internships, and co-authored international publications. Opportunities for research internships for KazNU master's and PhD students in China were also discussed.

The research trip generated valuable source materials for upcoming studies, produced new analytical insights on China’s cultural diplomacy toward Kazakhstan, and strengthened long-term academic cooperation with Chinese research institutions.

The Shanghai visit greatly contributed to improving the quality of the research group’s work, expanding its academic database, and enhancing scholarly cooperation between Kazakhstan and China.