Kazakhstan’s State Counselor Erlan Karin’s speech at Renmin University during his visit to China sparked heated debates in Chinese society, reports the national portal “Adyrna.”
On November 22, Erlan Karin delivered a lecture titled “Kazakhstan’s Reforms and the Stable Comprehensive Strategic Partnership Between Kazakhstan and China.” At the end of the lecture, a question from Wang Xiangzhu, an expert at China’s State Council Development Research Center and a Russia specialist, became widely discussed and drew criticism against the scholar himself.
Wang expressed surprise at Kazakhstan’s birth rates, contrasting them with the situation in China, where women are increasingly reluctant to marry and have children.
“In Kazakhstan, I saw children everywhere. This might be a result of your country’s support policies. In China, women are not motivated to have children, and neither elders nor authorities can persuade them. How do you convince women in Kazakhstan to marry early and have many children?” he asked.
These remarks caused a stir on social media, provoking backlash from Chinese women.
In response, Kazakhstan’s State Counselor Erlan Karin firmly stated that women should never be coerced. He highlighted significant reforms in Kazakhstan regarding women’s rights, human rights protection, and child safety. He also mentioned that every newborn in Kazakhstan receives dividends from the National Fund, emphasizing this as a key mechanism of social support in the country.
The dialogue ignited widespread discussion on Chinese social media. Some users praised Erlan Karin’s response, calling it civilized and courageous.
The incident, however, tarnished the reputation of the 70-year-old Wang Xiangzhu, a specialist in Russian and Central Asian issues. Following the controversy, Renmin University removed the interview from its website.
