Bridging the Belt and Road
Confucius Institutes, Luban Workshops connect China and Central Asia through language and skills
Nearly 100 teachers and more than 30 students have already received hands-on technical training through the program, he said.
"We expect our future graduates to become specialists in artificial intelligence, industrial automation and drone technologies," Sadvokasov said.
In Bishkek, the Luban Workshop at Kyrgyz State Technical University, or KSTU, officially opened in October 2024, with laboratories and classrooms spanning more than 1,000 square meters and housing over 300 pieces of equipment.
Akylbek Chymyrov, vice-rector of KSTU and director of the workshop, called it both an operational platform and a "living bridge" for advancing educational cooperation between Kyrgyzstan and China.
"The establishment of the Luban Workshop is of strategic importance for our university and provides a strong impetus for its modernization," Chymyrov said, adding that thanks to the substantial support of Chinese partners, KSTU students and faculty have gained access to advanced teaching methods, educational programs and high-tech equipment.
Chymyrov noted that the country urgently needs modern engineers for large-scale energy and infrastructure projects, and that the workshop is training specialists with international experience and high professional standards. The workshop is equipped with 15 laboratories, three smart classrooms and a conference hall.






















