Chinese language craze takes root

Amirkhan Kanatov was part of a group of Kazakh children who eagerly greeted Chinese President Xi Jinping upon his arrival at the Astana airport in Kazakhstan on Tuesday.

The 10-year-old earlier showcased his talents by singing Chinese songs and reciting Chinese tongue twisters to China Daily, offering his insights and impressions of China.

He has spent three years studying Chinese at the Confucius Institute at Eurasian National University in Kazakhstan.