BISHKEK, June 20 (Xinhua) -- Many young Kyrgyz dream of studying abroad, with Chinese universities appearing on the radar in recent years.

Students who studied at Chinese universities spoke to Xinhua about how an education in China bolstered their career and life prospects.

Bektur Papakov studied at Jilin University in Changchun in northeast China from 2016 to 2019.

"For the first year, we studied the language, and for the rest of the time, I studied for a master's program in project management," said Papakov.

He said that he decided to go to China because it was a new challenge, a new mentality and a new language, adding China's future growth was another draw.

At the same time, Papakov said he faced difficulties due to the language barrier and cultural differences, but the university was there for support.

Papakov noted that after studying, he returned to Kyrgyzstan and was able to open his own company.

"Now, I have my own company in Kyrgyzstan. I think that the three years that I spent in China, the experience and knowledge I gained helped me a lot when opening a company," he said.

Meanwhile, Erkeayim Sulaymanova told Xinhua that a diploma from a Chinese university gave her a significant advantage when applying to other universities and in the job market.

Sulaymanova said she studied at Beijing's University of International Business and Economics.

"I chose China as a place to study together with my parents. The decision was made due to the country's culture and good conditions," she said.

Sulaymanova emphasized that her experience living and studying in China enriched her worldview.

"Now, I am studying for a master's degree at the Diplomatic Academy of the Ministry of Foreign Affairs in Bishkek," Sulaymanova said. "I also work in an oil company, and when I applied for a job, a diploma from China was taken into account."