Editor's note: During his visit to Kazakhstan in September, President Xi Jinping proposed that China and Central Asia join hands to build a Silk Road economic belt to boost cooperation. The idea has been widely echoed in Central Asian countries, becoming an encouraging blueprint for Chinese areas along the Silk Road that has linked Asia and Europe for more than 2,000 years. In the next three weeks, China Daily reporters will travel through the belt. They will show the progress and expectations of the countries, businesses and peoples on the route.

The construction of the Silk Road Economic Belt could create more job opportunities for young people in Kazakhstan because it will attract more Chinese businesses to invest in the neighboring country, university students said.

"We've seen more Chinese companies opening up offices in Almaty, and translators who are fluent in Russian and Chinese are in high demand," said Ella Mazhebitskay, a student in the International Relations and World Languages program at Kazakh State Ablai Khan University in Almaty.