2016年CRI China and Uzbekistan Relations Traced Back to Thousands of Years

 

Situated¹ in southwestern Uzbekistan, Bukhara has been inscribed² on UNESCO's World Heritage List. The organization describes Bukhara as the "most complete example of a medieval city in Central Asia."

Human activities in the region can be traced back some 4-thousand years.

However, Bukhara native and historian Robert Almeev says its Chinese historical records provide crucial details to understanding the region's development.

" This region was not named Bukhara until 5th Century BC. Bukhara refers to not just the city, but also the entire region. After the Arab conquest, large amounts of historical records were destroyed. So to understand this region's history, we have largely relied on ancient Chinese texts, such as those from China's Han, Tang and Wei Dynasties. These records have played an integral role in helping³ us to understand the history of this region, and even that of our country. "

In the 2nd century BC, the Han Dynasty in China dispatched envoy⁴ Zhang Qian on a westward⁵ journey, opening a gateway⁶ to China's interactions with central Asia and Europe.

While Zhang is credited by many as the pioneer of the ancient Silk Road, Almeev says a Persian ethnic⁷ group living in the Bukhara region helped to facilitate trade along the ancient route. 

"The Sogdians had such a tradition – if a boy was born, the adults would put a coin in his hand, and smear⁸ some honey on his tongue. They believed this would help him to say the right words and be financial successful. They spoke⁹ the ancient Aramaic language, which was also used in many parts of Europe at the time. So the Sogdian businessmen helped to connect China and the Mediterranean¹⁰ region. "

Ancient Chinese goods such as porcelain¹¹, tea, and silk were transported to Bukhara, and then eventually made their way into Europe.

Many of the items are now on exhibit in local museums.

Deputy Director of the Bukhara State Architectural and Art Museum-Preserve, Karim Rustamov, says early Chinese financiers even established a currency exchange in Bukhara.

"In the middle of the 18th century, a Chinese backed bank was established here, providing financial services to business people from different nations. The businessmen could exchange their own currencies into the Chinese currency."

Numerous artifacts pointing to the historical trade ties between China and Uzbekistan are still around today.

And in today's Bukhara, Chinese and Uzbek investors¹² are still working together, including a number of silk factories which still export their products into the European markets.

Zhao Yunming is an official with one of those silk factories.

He says the current Chinese policies to develop trade with central Asia are once again helping to boost the region's economy.

"China's Belt and Road initiative has had a great impact on local businesses. Many businessmen here are hoping to catch this opportunity, they believe there is a great future in doing business with Chinese partners. "

Thousands of jobs have been created locally in Uzbekistan by Chinese investments.

Many expect Xi Jinping's visit to Uzbekistan is only going to increase opportunities, particularly in the areas of trade and tourism.

For CRI, I'm Victor Ning.

1 situated   

adj.坐落在...的，处于某种境地的

参考例句：

• The village is situated at the margin of a forest.村子位于森林的边缘。
• She is awkwardly situated.她的处境困难。

2 inscribed   

v.写，刻( inscribe的过去式和过去分词 )；内接

参考例句：

• His name was inscribed on the trophy. 他的名字刻在奖杯上。
• The names of the dead were inscribed on the wall. 死者的名字被刻在墙上。 来自《简明英汉词典》

3 helping   

n.食物的一份&adj.帮助人的，辅助的

参考例句：

• The poor children regularly pony up for a second helping of my hamburger. 那些可怜的孩子们总是要求我把我的汉堡包再给他们一份。
• By doing this, they may at times be helping to restore competition. 这样一来, 他在某些时候,有助于竞争的加强。

4 envoy   

n.使节，使者，代表，公使

参考例句：

• Their envoy showed no sign of responding to our proposals.他们的代表对我方的提议毫无回应的迹象。
• The government has not yet appointed an envoy to the area.政府尚未向这一地区派过外交官。

5 westward   

n.西方，西部；adj.西方的，向西的；adv.向西

参考例句：

• We live on the westward slope of the hill.我们住在这座山的西山坡。
• Explore westward or wherever.向西或到什么别的地方去勘探。

6 gateway   

n.大门口，出入口，途径，方法

参考例句：

• Hard work is the gateway to success.努力工作是通往成功之路。
• A man collected tolls at the gateway.一个人在大门口收通行费。

7 ethnic   

adj.人种的，种族的，异教徒的

参考例句：

• This music would sound more ethnic if you played it in steel drums.如果你用钢鼓演奏，这首乐曲将更具民族特色。
• The plan is likely only to aggravate ethnic frictions.这一方案很有可能只会加剧种族冲突。

8 smear   

v.涂抹；诽谤，玷污；n.污点；诽谤，污蔑

参考例句：

• He has been spreading false stories in an attempt to smear us.他一直在散布谎言企图诽谤我们。
• There's a smear on your shirt.你衬衫上有个污点。

9 spoke   

n.（车轮的）辐条；轮辐；破坏某人的计划；阻挠某人的行动 v.讲，谈（speak的过去式）；说；演说；从某种观点来说

参考例句：

• They sourced the spoke nuts from our company.他们的轮辐螺帽是从我们公司获得的。
• The spokes of a wheel are the bars that connect the outer ring to the centre.辐条是轮子上连接外圈与中心的条棒。

10 Mediterranean   

adj.地中海的；地中海沿岸的

参考例句：

• The houses are Mediterranean in character.这些房子都属地中海风格。
• Gibraltar is the key to the Mediterranean.直布罗陀是地中海的要冲。

11 porcelain   

n.瓷；adj.瓷的，瓷制的

参考例句：

• These porcelain plates have rather original designs on them.这些瓷盘的花纹很别致。
• The porcelain vase is enveloped in cotton.瓷花瓶用棉花裹着。

12 investors   

n.投资者，出资者( investor的名词复数 )

参考例句：

• a con man who bilked investors out of millions of dollars 诈取投资者几百万元的骗子
• a cash bonanza for investors 投资者的赚钱机会