Botakoz Yelshibek introduces Kazakh food at the sixth CIIE. [Photo/WeChat ID: ecnugec]

Botakoz Yelshibek and Tomiris Yelshibek may be students at East China Normal University (ECNU) in Shanghai, but the sisters nevertheless got to play a key role in this year's China International Import Expo (CIIE).

For example, Botakoz served as the director of the Kazakhstan Import Pavilion while Tomiris served as a volunteer at the Kazakhstan National Pavilion.

The Kazakhstan Import Pavilion showcased a range of commodities that was curated by Botakoz, who said that her experience of participating in three consecutive CIIEs has shaped her into a confident young woman with clear career goals.

Driven by her passion for international trade, she is hoping to contribute to economic, trade, and cultural exchanges between Kazakhstan and China after she graduates.

As a volunteer, Tomiris provided translation services to visitors. She said that participating in the CIIE for the first time this year was an exciting affair that allowed her to share more about her home country with Chinese visitors.

Besides helping out at the CIIE, the two sisters are also relatively well-known on Chinese social media platforms, where they share content regarding Kazakh culture, language, history, and food to Chinese audiences.