Planting seeds to cultivate culture
"The expo is a great platform to show our green and organic products before the Chinese people. Our President Sooronbay Jeenbekov, who opened the pavilion, highlighted the importance of the expo for the promotion of Kyrgyz natural goods."
The pavilion will host more activities to show what the country offers.
"Aug 31 marks our independence day, and we will try to invite our artists to give cultural performances at the expo," Erkebaev says.
Plans call for a forum promoting bilateral tourism and business ties to be held soon.
Erkebaev says the expo has publicized green development, and boosted cultural exchanges and integration among different countries.
"It's of great significance to raise public awareness of ecological protection, urge the public to engage in green lifestyles and educate the next generation," he says.
The expo's international exhibition area has impressed Erkebaev.
"I've come to better understand various customs and practices through visiting exhibitions of other countries and talking to their people," he says.
"More importantly, our Agriculture Ministry and I could learn modern agricultural technology, such as advanced greenhouse systems and water-saving irrigation, which is what Kyrgyzstan needs the most in farming at the moment."
Erkebaev often tours other pavilions to learn exhibition design to best present his country's agricultural products.
Over 10,000 people visited the Kyrgyz pavilion during the recent May Day holiday, Erkebaev says.
"It is the first time for many of those tourists to see our yurt, and they are amazed by the interior layout and decorations," Erkebaev says.
"They've also shown great interest in our honey, flour and wine."
Erkebaev studied at Peking University, starting in 1999, and deeply respects China.
"I hope all exhibitioners and visitors could see a Beijing with a blue sky and more green trees through the expo."
He also looks forward to the benefits the Belt and Road Initiative will bring to people in the involved countries.
