On April 24, 2026, a creative seminar dedicated to the joint Chinese-Kazakh project Voice Beyond Horizon was held at the Kazakhstan Cultural Center in Beijing. The program’s creators, experts and scholars, representatives of youth media platforms, and journalists from leading outlets gathered to share insights into the creative process, exchange experience in media communication, and discuss new pathways for mutual enrichment among Silk Road civilizations.

The day before, the official broadcast run of Voice Beyond Horizon concluded in China. Total online views of the program exceeded 2.36 billion, while ratings across multiple platforms continued to lead. After airing on Kazakhstan’s national television channel, the program also achieved strong results and generated broad public response. It received repeated praise from People’s Daily and was featured in special reports by more than 200 major international media outlets, gaining both popularity and authority in China and abroad. It has become a landmark audiovisual production in the field of cultural exchange and international communication along the Silk Road in the new era.

Speaking on behalf of Hunan Broadcasting System was Gong Zhengwen, Party Committee Secretary, Chairman of the Board, CEO, and Editor-in-Chief of the company. Also addressing the event were Askar, Counselor of the Embassy of Kazakhstan in China; Muhammed, Attaché of the Embassy of the Kyrgyz Republic in China; Wei Xiao, Deputy Director of the Publicity Department of the National Radio and Television Administration; Yang Yong, Deputy Director of the Department of International Cooperation of the National Radio and Television Administration; and Xiao Rong, Party Group Member and Deputy Director of the Hunan Provincial Radio and Television Administration.

During the lively and productive discussions, experts noted that the project stands out for its vivid cultural identity, combining musicality with educational value while breaking public stereotypes about Central Asian countries. It demonstrates a high level of artistry in adapting folk music, blending instruments, and presenting authentic real-life settings. This not only enriches the landscape of music programming but also offers audiences a more diverse view of world music.

Another unique feature of the project was its rejection of lavish stage settings, moving performances to streets and campuses in order to present the most genuine essence of cultural exchange in real environments. For example, Kazakh singer Nurzhas diligently studied Chinese and performed the song I Wait together with Cai Chengyu, continuing the legacy of musical cooperation between Xian Xinghai and Bakhytzhan Baikadamov. Their heartfelt performance conveyed the friendship of the Silk Road through youthful voices.

The founder of the project, People’s Artist of Kazakhstan Dimash Qudaibergen, shared the story behind its creation, spoke about the production process, and thanked the team and viewers for their support:

“Voice Beyond Horizon” – these three words embody every day and night we spent from the very beginning of the project to its completion. It was not simply a production cycle; it was a journey measured in days and nights. It is not just a television program, but a dream I cherished for many years.

Many Chinese friends have known me since I first participated in a Hunan TV program years ago. Back then, full of love for music and with a little nervousness, I stepped onto a Chinese stage for the first time. I never expected such a warm welcome from Chinese viewers and the production team. From that moment on, I kept asking myself: how could I repay this friendship?

In Kazakhstan, we have a proverb: “Repay kindness with kindness.” That is why I always wanted to invite everyone to my country and create a stage for young musicians of the Silk Road. Voice Beyond Horizon is my answer. President Xi Jinping once warmly described me as “an ambassador of friendship between China and Kazakhstan in the new era.” That honor reflects both my original intention and my way of giving back to China and Hunan TV.

In this program, I also served as a co-producer. I personally witnessed teams from China and Kazakhstan starting from zero – filming in snowy mountains, on the steppe, in cities and villages, coordinating schedules across six countries, and overcoming countless difficulties involving language, climate, and culture. The process was extremely demanding, yet no one complained of fatigue. Because we were creating something meaningful: building a bridge through music to bring Silk Road youth closer together.

What moved me most were the young singers from different countries. They did not always understand each other’s languages, and they came from different life stories, yet when they improvised together, reinterpreted folk songs, and danced under the stars, I saw no barriers between them. Music is our common language.

After the program aired, many viewers told me that for the first time they realized young people in neighboring countries are no different from themselves – they all long for understanding, love life, and believe in the future.

This seminar is not an ending, but a new beginning. I hope Voice Beyond Horizon is only the start. In the future, there may be second and third seasons, creative music camps, youth exchange programs, and even participation from young people in other Silk Road countries.

I believe the musical stories of the Silk Road will resonate forever.

Finally, I would like to thank every organization that supported this project, our partners, and viewers around the world. Thank you to my creative team, our guests, and the singers who worked side by side with me. Thank you for investing your time, talent, and love into this project. Thank you to every one of you who worked day and night. Without you, there would be no Voice Beyond Horizon.

The voice began here, but it will not stop here. Let us continue to connect the world through music and strengthen friendship through cooperation. Thank you all for your support and partnership on this journey.”