DUSHANBE, Oct. 22 (Xinhua) -- With a brush in hand, 20-year-old Maryam Tabarova carefully traces Chinese characters on paper, concentrating on each stroke. Around her, more than 10 fellow students are practicing calligraphy at the Confucius Institute at Tajik National University (TNU).

"When I was a child, I watched many Chinese films on television, which sparked my initial interest in China," Tabarova said.

A year and a half ago, she enrolled in the Confucius Institute at TNU, where she studies Chinese and takes part in cultural activities. She hopes to master the language while gaining a deeper understanding of Chinese culture.

"Of all aspects of Chinese culture, I like calligraphy the most. Practicing it helps me develop patience and perseverance," she said.

Tabarova said the institute also organizes a range of events and competitions in addition to regular classes. "Through these activities, we can improve our Chinese and learn more about Chinese culture," she said.

Looking ahead, she hopes to pursue a career in language teaching after graduation. "I want to go to China to improve my Chinese before returning to Tajikistan to teach at the Confucius Institute," she said.

Sun Jing, co-director of the Confucius Institute at TNU, said that since its establishment in 2008, the institute has taught about 56,000 people Mandarin and organized more than 1,400 cultural events, attracting over 170,000 participants in total. Some of its former students have gone on to become teachers at the institute.

Zhasmina Kalandarova began learning Chinese in 2014 and now teaches at the Confucius Institute at TNU.

"My greatest achievement as a teacher at the Confucius Institute is being able to do work I truly love," she said. "Through this language, I can help more of our students see the world and encounter different cultures."

Kalandarova said Chinese plays an important role in cultural exchange. "The Chinese language is not just a bridge connecting Central Asia and China; it is also a bridge connecting the entire world," she said.

Further educational cooperation between China and Central Asia should include more practical, skills-based training programs tailored to local industry needs, she added.

"Such programs can help young people develop professional skills and acquire the qualifications they need for employment," Kalandarova said.

In March, the Confucius Institute at TNU launched a workshop that offers local young people free training in practical skills, including filigree enamel painting and copper bas-relief making.

The cultural workshop has been particularly beneficial to Samira Hamroeva, a senior at TNU who has studied Chinese at the institute for more than two years.

When she told her teachers that she hoped to turn her craft into a source of income, they offered her their full support.

Hamroeva plans to work with local companies that will regularly purchase her products.

"I want to use Chinese technologies to create products incorporating elements of our own culture, thereby strengthening friendship between the peoples of our two countries," Hamroeva said.