Mintimer Shaimiev: “We should consolidate contacts with our compatriots”

A meeting of the Republic of Tatarstan State Counselor Mintimer Shaimiev and representatives of fellow-countrymen from China was held at the Kazan Kremlin on October 21.

At the beginning of the meeting Mintimer Shaimiev warmly greeted the compatriots from China and thanked them for their coming to Tatarstan. Tatars live in different part of the world, however, they managed to preserve their language, culture and national traditions, the first Tatarstan president mentioned in his speech. “Tatars living in China are reputable and respectable people,” Mintimer Shaimiev said. He proposed holding meetings with fellow-countrymen from People’s Republic of China as often as possible. “We should consolidate contacts with our compatriots,” he added.

At the meeting the guests informed the State Counselor about how Tatarstan live in China. “We live friendly, support each other,” Rakyp Abbasov emphasized. The keep in touch, go to mosques, learn Tatar at schools, preserve their nation’s language and traditions.

The guests showed a newspaper with a photo of Mintimer Shaimiev and China leader Hu Jintao who visited Tatarstan. “Many mass media covered Hu Jintao’s visit to Tatarstan that time. More people learnt about Tatars,” Abbasov said.

After the meeting, representatives of the delegation from China told journalists that China Tatars’ studying at republican universities had been discussed. “We want our children to study in Tatarstan, find out about the national traditions and could pass them from generation to generation,” Khamit Khakimov said. According to his words, over 5,000 Tatars live in China.

48 fellow-countrymen from China are studying at Tatarstan universities at present.