A memorandum of understanding was signed as part of the forum between Kazan Federal University and State University of Management.

KFU’s signatory, Vice-Rector for International Affairs Timirkhan Alishev, noted, “We are widening our partnership network in Russia. We have had longstanding links with SUM, and I think that this memorandum will be followed by student exchange.”

Dr Alishev and Deputy Minister of Education and Science of Tatarstan Andrey Pominov contributed to a press conference on the opening day of the forum. In particular, the Deputy Minister mentioned that there are currently 1,896 Chinese students in Tatarstan, the vast majority of which are enrolled in KFU. The University also has the biggest number of cooperation agreements with Chinese institutions.

Vice-Rector Alishev said that about 50 percent of Chinese students arrive to study Russian language, “We teach Russian in our Preparatory School and also open Russian courses at schools in China.”

KFU is now ready to open such courses at three more high schools in China – the studies are starting this autumn.

A double diploma master’s program by China University of Petroleum and KFU’s Institute of Geology and Petroleum Technologies is also going to start in the nearest weeks.

“The number of young people interested in Chinese language grows constantly. This is a good omen for our further cooperation with China,” concluded the Vice-Rector.

He further proceeded to moderate a panel session on youth links between the two countries. The contributors were Minister of Youth Affairs of Tatarstan Rinat Sadykov, Attache for Education at the Consulate of the People’s Republic of China in Kazan Liu Xuejiao, Deputy Director of the China – Tatarstan Research Center of the Tatarstan Academy of Sciences Zhang Dali, Chairman of the Russia-China Economic Cooperation Commission of the Russian Chamber of Commerce Anna Bessmertnaya, Director of KFU’s Institute of International Relations Ramil Khairutdinov, Director of KFU’s Institute of Philology and Intercultural Communication Radif Zamaletdinov, and others.

Dr Khairutdinov reminded that Kazan University was the home of Russia’s first – and Europe’s second – department of Chinese language, opened on 11 May 1837. Over 1,500 Institute students are currently studying Chinese language.

Dr Zamaletdinov mentioned that 620 Chinese students are enrolled in the Institute of Philology. He had high praise for their discipline, earnest demeanor, and academic excellence.

KFU students are some of the most active participants of the forum’s Russia-China Youth Friendship Festival.

Source: KFU

https://eng.kpfu.ru/novosti/sotrudnichestvo/kfu-part-of-rostki-russia-china-forum/