On 30 September of this year in Beijing, Professor B. K. Sultanov, Director of the Research Institute for International and Regional Cooperation of the Kazakh-German University, was presented with the Friendship Award of the Government of the People’s Republic of China.
The Friendship Award of the Chinese Government, established by the State Council of the PRC in 1991, is the highest honour to recognize foreign specialists who have made outstanding contributions to the economic and social progress of China.
The awarding ceremony is traditionally timed to coincide with the 1st of October — the National Day of the People’s Republic of China — and the award is presented annually as part of the celebrations of that day.
Every year, the Friendship Award of the Chinese Government is bestowed upon 50 foreign scholars and experts. This year, for the first time, it was awarded to two representatives from Central Asia: former Secretary-General of the Shanghai Cooperation Organisation V. I. Norov (Tashkent), and B. K. Sultanov.
This honour was given to B. K. Sultanov “in recognition of his important personal contribution to advancing China’s socialist modernization and promoting exchanges and cooperation between China and foreign countries.”
B. K. Sultanov, Doctor of Historical Sciences, Professor at the Kazakh-German University, Honoured Worker of the Republic of Kazakhstan, Distinguished Diplomat of Kazakhstan, holder of the Orders “Kurmets”, “Friendship” (Russia), many Kazakhstani and foreign medals, is the founder and during 10 years unchanged director of the Research Institute for International and Regional Cooperation at the Kazakh-German University. He is author of 10 books (including co-authored), about 300 scientific articles on international relations and the foreign policy of the Republic of Kazakhstan. At his initiative, DKU regularly holds international scientific conferences, round tables, and seminars.
Among the reasons for awarding this high governmental honour from the PRC was his work as Chairman of the Board of the “Belt and Road” Expert Club, founded in Almaty on 28 November 2017, which brings together Kazakhstani scholars, experts, and university lecturers studying the history of China and Kazakh-Chinese relations.
The main goals of the “Belt and Road” Expert Club are to promote the deepening of Kazakh-Chinese cooperation, and the successful alignment of Kazakhstan’s “New Kazakhstan” strategy with the concept of the Economic Belt of the Silk Road.
During its existence, the “Belt and Road” Expert Club has held a number of scientific conferences and round tables in Kazakhstan and China. On the initiative and under the editorial leadership of B. K. Sultanov, the Expert Club has published 30 books on current issues of international relations, foreign and domestic policy of Kazakhstan, and Kazakh-Chinese cooperation. Among these works are: “Kassym-Jomart Tokayev. Selected Works of the President of the Republic of Kazakhstan” — Almaty, 2021, 753 pages; “Xi Jinping. Foreign Policy of Contemporary China. Selected Speeches, Addresses and Articles (2013-2023)” — Almaty, 2024, 388 pages; “The Economic Belt of the Silk Road in the Context of Regional Security” — Almaty, 2017, 176 pages; “Kazakh-Chinese Relations: History of Formation and Development (1992-2023). Collection of Documents and Materials” — Almaty, 2023, 400 pages; etc.
In 2025, the Expert Club published the following works: “China’s Global Initiatives and the Building of a Community with a Shared Future for Mankind” — Almaty, 2025, 226 pages; “Modernization in Chinese Style and a Community of Shared Future of China and Central Asian Countries. Collection of Materials of the International Forum, Almaty, 16 April 2025” — Almaty, 2025, 127 pages.
