The Manas epic tells the story of generations of the Manas family who led their people in struggles against foreign invaders and forces of evil. The stories and themes from the Manas epic have been passed down in China’s Xinjiang and across Central Asia, including Kyrgyzstan. For centuries, the epic of Manas has been a treasured cultural heritage along the ancient Silk Road.
On August 28, 2026, in a signed article published in Kyrgyz media, Chinese President Xi Jinping called on the two countries to work together to protect and promote world intangible cultural heritage like the Manas epic.
Linked by mountains and rivers, China and Kyrgyzstan are good neighbors sharing weal and woe. Guided by head-of-state diplomacy, the peoples of China and Kyrgyzstan have forged close bonds through heart-to-heart communication, kept up vibrant exchanges and mutual learning, and steadily strengthened friendly cooperation.
The China-Kyrgyzstan community with a shared future is sure to embrace an even brighter tomorrow.
