The “Dialogue of Great Thinkers” sculpture dedicated to Al-Farabi and Confucius was unveiled in Astana
The history of civilizations is a continuous dialogue of ideas capable of connecting peoples separated by centuries and millennia. The legacy of great thinkers continues to live on when their wisdom becomes a foundation for cultural, educational and scientific cooperation between generations.
On Friday, the sculpture “Dialogue of Great Thinkers” was unveiled in Astana, the capital of Kazakhstan, depicting the outstanding Kazakh philosopher Abu Nasr al-Farabi (870–950 AD) and the Chinese thinker Confucius (551–479 BC). The new composition represents an ideological dialogue between the two historical figures and symbolizes the strong cultural ties between the peoples of Kazakhstan and China.
Chinese Ambassador to Kazakhstan Han Chunlin noted that Confucius and al-Farabi were great thinkers. He said that the presentation of the composition demonstrates that friendship between China and Kazakhstan has entered a new stage of development, while the ideas and legacy of the great sages should be passed from generation to generation.
The ambassador also noted that Chinese President Xi Jinping proposed the Global Civilization Initiative, and that the event represents a tangible practical manifestation of this initiative, contributing to educational exchanges between the two countries.
Serik Aztaevich Irsaliyev, President of Astana International University, emphasized that Confucius and al-Farabi lived approximately 1,500 years apart, yet their great Eastern wisdom continues to inspire modern generations to pursue further scientific achievements.
According to Irsaliyev, the development of friendly relations between China and Kazakhstan requires the training not only of specialists in language and culture, but also of technical professionals in all economic sectors where cooperation between the two countries is actively developing.
The sculpture was created by renowned Chinese sculptor Wu Weishan. It was presented to Kazakhstan’s President Kassym-Jomart Tokayev during his visit to China in 2026. The Kazakh leader subsequently donated the work to the Astana branch of Beijing Language and Culture University.
Kazakhstan’s Minister of Science and Higher Education Sayasat Nurbek said that, following instructions from the head of state, work is underway to establish branches of leading technological universities. Kazakhstan is currently negotiating with Xi’an Jiaotong University, Shanghai Jiao Tong University and Tsinghua University.
In addition, the Shanghai Innovation Institute, a leading institution in artificial intelligence, has become a partner of the new National Research University of Artificial Intelligence, which is scheduled to open in the coming days.
As reported by SSTV+, the unveiling of the “Dialogue of Great Thinkers” sculpture has become a symbol of closer cultural and educational ties between Kazakhstan and China, as well as new prospects for cooperation in science, technology and professional training.
