Major ethnic epics performed at int'l cultural tourism festival in China's Xinjiang

STORY: Major ethnic epics performed at int'l cultural tourism festival in China's Xinjiang DATELINE: July 16, 2023 LENGTH: 00:02:21 LOCATION: URUMQI, China CATEGORY: CULTURE SHOTLIST: 1. various of performances 2. SOUNDBITE 1 (Chinese): ADILI JUMETURDI, Researcher, Institute of Ethnic Literature, Chinese Academy of Social Sciences 3. SOUNDBITE 2 (Kyrgrz): ALMAZ MURATBEKOV, Staff member, Ministry of Culture, Information, Sports and Youth Policy of Kyrgyzstan STORYLINE: The ninth Manas International Cultural Tourism Festival concluded on Sunday in Kizilsu Kirgiz Autonomous Prefecture in northwest China's Xinjiang Uygur Autonomous Region. The Kirgiz ethnic epic "Manas," "Epic of King Gesar," which is hailed as "the Homeric epics of the East," and "Jangar," a heroic epic of the Mongolian ethnic group, were performed on the stage. The three epics, all designated as national intangible cultural heritages, are viewed as equally important cultural works of ethnic minority groups. Performers sang songs lauding h

Chinese-built new highway to help Kyrgyzstan in economic development: Kyrgyz expert

STORY: Chinese-built new highway to help Kyrgyzstan in economic development: Kyrgyz expert DATELINE: May 13, 2023 LENGTH: 00:02:06 LOCATION: Bishkek CATEGORY: POLITICS SHOTLIST: 1. various of the north-south highway in Kyrgyzstan 2. SOUNDBITE (Kyrgrz): SHERDALI BAKTYGULOV, Expert from the National Institute for Strategic Studies of the Kyrgyz Republic 3. various of the north-south highway in Kyrgyzstan 4. various of the China-Kyrgyzstan-Uzbekistan highway 5. various of the north-south highway in Kyrgyzstan STORYLINE: A Kyrgyz expert has said that a new highway built by China under the Belt and Road Initiative (BRI) will not only help Kyrgyzstan in economic development, but also create international transport corridors that will promote growth throughout Central Asia. The expert points out that the north-south highway in Kyrgyzstan makes it possible to halve the cost of transporting goods in the region, thus promoting trade and cooperation. SOUNDBITE (Kyrgrz): SHERDALI BAKTYGULOV, Expert from the National