Fatima Kukeyeva, Professor of International Relations, Al-Farabi Kazakh National University

　　On June 28, the "Ten Years of the Belt and Road Initiative: How Can China's Central State-owned Enterprises (SOEs) Play a Better Role in International Communication" Roundtable Talk kicked off in Beijing. Professor Fatima Kukeyeva of Al-Farabi Kazakh National University said during the event that soft power is the key in promoting the Belt and Road Initiative (BRI).

　　In her speech, Kukeyeva set forth that China is one of the leading countries interacting with Central Asian states. The cooperation between China and Central Asian states acquires strategic geopolitical and geo-economic significance within the BRI. However, while countries in the region are beneficiaries of the BRI projects, there are regional barriers and cultural discounts.

　　Kukeyeva noted that the massive scale of BRI requires the support not only from the governments, but also the public of participating countries. Moreover, she pointed out that soft power is the key in promoting BRI. As member countries of BRI, Central Asian states need to integrate the agenda with the issues of expanding cultural and humanitarian cooperation as well as building people-to-people bridges. This will contribute to greater recognition and understanding by Kazakhstanis of their strategic partnership with China.