Visit of the Rector Yagshygeldi Kakayev International of Oil and Gas University to the People's Republic of China

On May 13, 2026, B. Atamanov, Rector of the Yagshygeldi Kakayev International Oil and Gas University paid a working visit to Beijing, China, to participate in a symposium on "Studying and Implementing President Xi Jinping's Important Reply to Students from Central Asia Studying at the China University of Petroleum" and "High-Quality Development of Higher Education in the Energy Sector within the Framework of the Belt and Road Initiative," organized by the China University of Petroleum (Beijing).

On the first day of his visit, the rector actively participated in the symposium and delivered a report on "Turkmenistan and China: Implementing Innovative Technologies in the Oil and Gas Industry within the Framework of Strategic Cooperation in Science and Education." During his speech, he described the recent high-level international scientific and practical conference and exhibition "Turkmenistan-People's Republic of China: 20 Years of Strategic Cooperation in the Gas Sector," held in Ashgabat, and informed symposium participants about the grand opening and commissioning of the "Lu Ban Workshop in Turkmenistan" at the Yagshygeldi Kakayev International University of Oil and Gas. The signing of an agreement with the China University of Petroleum to establish a joint Turkmen-Chinese energy training center was also noted.

The Turkmen delegation then took part in the opening ceremony of a cultural festival held as part of the symposium. At the event, Turkmen students studying at this higher education institution performed the national dance "Kusht Depdi." The cultural program also included a visit to an exhibition pavilion prepared by students from Turkmenistan and a discussion with the students about their living and studying conditions.

The implementation of an international dual degree diploma program in the educational process in China and Turkmenistan was also discussed. Yang Zhou, Deputy Director General of the China Center for Language Education and Cooperation, which is participating in the funding of this program, expressed his readiness to provide scholarships to students of the Yagshygeldi Kakayev International Oil and Gas University.

On the second day of the visit, the Turkmen representative learned about the educational and research work being conducted in the geological and chemical laboratories of the China University of Petroleum, as well as the implementation of artificial intelligence (AI) in the educational process. He emphasized the need for further exchange of experience in its application in the university's educational process and in the oil and gas industry.

Then, he was introduced to the activities of Kunlun Shuzhi, a branch of the China National Petroleum Corporation specializing in digital systems and artificial intelligence. The company is engaged in the digitalization of the oil and gas industry, equipment manufacturing, production process management, and the implementation of artificial intelligence in geological exploration. He also visited the software and robotics laboratory.

On the final day of the visit, a working meeting was held with the heads of Xi'an University of Petroleum, China, and Hebei Petroleum Vocational University to discuss the procurement of additional equipment for the Lu Ban Workshop in Turkmenistan. During the meeting, the Chinese side briefed the Turkmen representative on the progress of the third phase of equipping the workshop. The Turkmen side emphasized the need to accelerate the workshop's educational and research activities and urged the Chinese side to begin practical work on the workshop and ensure its full implementation.