China and Kazakhstan on Wednesday launched new cultural and educational projects which is expected to further boost bilateral ties, according to scholars and officials from the two countries.
Visiting Chinese President Xi Jinping and Kazakh President Kassym-Jomart Tokayev together witnessed the unveiling of two cultural centers between the two countries, and the Kazakhstan Branch of Beijing Language and Culture University (BLCU) in Astana, capital of Kazakhstan.
Noting that Tokayev studied Chinese at BLCU from 1983 to 1984, BLCU President Duan Peng called the Kazakh leader "a brand ambassador for Chinese language education at the BLCU".
"The Kazakh president himself is a brand ambassador for Chinese language education at the BLCU. He once studied at the BLCU, and last year, visited his Chinese alma mater, which boosts Chinese language study in Kazakhstan. I hope that more young people from Kazakhstan and other Central Asian countries will be inspired to study Chinese language and culture," said Duan.
Kazakhstan's science and higher education minister Sayasat Nurbek echoed his words, saying "Please come to Kazakhstan. Let's build us new bridges, new cooperation and new collaboration for the next thirty years of golden prosperity and friendship between our countries."
Xi is on a state visit to Kazakhstan, where he will also attend the 24th Meeting of the Council of Heads of State of the Shanghai Cooperation Organization.
China, Kazakhstan increase cultural exchanges for better ties: scholars, officials
The Nasser Medical Complex in southern Gaza is in an acute shortage of fuel supply, endangering hundreds of lives, including existing patients and the wounded who have been continuously brought in.
The hospital's director of nursing Dr. Muhammad Saqr told China Global Television Network (CGTN) that medical services in several departments have ceased, due to a lack of fuel which powers the hospital's only electricity generator.
"We cut off power to some departments, so that other departments, such as the intensive care unit, the premature infant care unit, and cardiology, can have electricity. Since now, every 500 liters of oil can suffice for two hours, and after two hours, we would be on the verge of a real massacre. Our patients will die from suffocation on their beds. We hope that this terrifying scenario will not happen again, because we saw it happen before when the Israeli army overran the Nasser Medical Complex a few months ago," said Saqr.
The lives of up to 15 infants at the neonatal care unit are relying on continuous electricity supply at the hospital.
Families with sick children spend their days filled with anxiety due to the uncertainty over whether healthcare for their loved ones can continue.
"We have been hearing for four days at the hospital that fuel is running short, and we have begun to notice that electricity is irregular and has gradually begun to decrease in the hospital. In two hours, if there's no fuel supply, there will be a possibility that medical services and oxygen supply will stop. Our child relies on oxygen to live, and this means we will lose him if fuel is not available in two hours," said Muhammad Al-Qad, father of a sick child.
The Nasser Medical Complex is the last remaining major hospital still treating the sick and wounded in the cities of Khan Yunis and Rafah. Most of the other medical facilities in the besieged Gaza Strip have been destroyed throughout the Israeli military operations since October 7 last year.
According to the United Nations Office for the Coordination of Humanitarian Affairs (OCHA), over the past months, the health care system in Gaza has been systematically dismantled -- with 24 hospitals in Gaza now out of service, and with 493 health workers killed in relentless Israeli bombardments.
Patients' lives hang by thread as Gaza's Nasser hospital runs out of fuel
