On December 20, a delegation led by senior Professor Djoomart Otorbaev from Kyrgyzstan visited the School of Economics of Shandong University. Sheng Li, Executive Dean of the Shanghai Cooperation Organization Research Institute of Shandong University, Dong Chunjie, Secretary of the Party Committee of the School of Economics, Shi Shaobin, Executive Vice Dean, and Sun Shuqin, Vice Dean, participated in the activity.
Professor Djoomart Otorbaev was invited to give a report titled "New Trends of the 'Belt and Road' and Central Asia's Role" for teachers and students at the 2nd Xue Muqiao Distinguished Lecture Series. Sun Shuqin presided over the report meeting.
Professor Djoomart Otorbaev pointed out that Central Asia is located in the center of Eurasia, with a unique geographical location, and is an important bridge connecting the East and the West. He introduced the prosperity and bridge role of Central Asia in the era of the ancient Silk Road, analyzed the achievements and changes brought by the Belt and Road Initiative to Central Asia in terms of infrastructure construction and international trade facilitation combined with data, and examined the unprecedented complex changes that the world will face in the future from a forward-looking perspective. He also in-depth discussed how the Belt and Road Initiative can continue to provide innovative wisdom, feasible plans and potential contributions to the world in addressing new challenges.
During the activity, Professor Djoomart Otorbaev and his delegation visited the "Approaching Xue Muqiao" Deeds Exhibition Hall of the School, and learned about the glorious deeds of Mr. Xue Muqiao and his outstanding contributions to the development of the economic discipline of Shandong University through precious historical materials and pictures.
Djoomart Otorbaev is a Senior Research Fellow at the Shanghai Cooperation Organization Research Institute of Shandong University, a Distinguished Professor at the Belt and Road School of Beijing Normal University, and a Senior Research Fellow at the Chongyang Institute for Financial Studies of Renmin University of China, as well as a famous expert on SCO issues. He is a Kyrgyzstan national, graduated from Leningrad State University with a Ph.D. in Mathematical Physics. He taught at Kyrgyz State University from 1981 to 2001 and was a senior professor. From 2001 to 2015, he held important positions in Philips, the European Bank for Reconstruction and Development, and the Government of Kyrgyzstan. He is the author of "Central Asia's Economic Rise and the Shadow of the Great Game" and other works, and has been interviewed by CGTN and China Daily more than 100 times and written column articles.
