ASU continues to develop international ties with China

On 24–29 April 2017 delegations from Eurasian countries paid an official visit to Beijing, the capital of the People’s Republic of China. The event was organized by the Ministry of Foreign Affairs of China; Chinese Committee for Neighborliness, Friendship and Cooperation and Shanghai Cooperation Organization; and Russian-Chinese Committee for Friendship, Peace and Development.

The event participants included young representatives of business, social, political, scientific and educational communities of Eurasian countries. 20 delegates represented 10 former Soviet republics: Azerbaijan, Armenia, Belarus, Georgia, Moldova, Kyrgyzstan, Tajikistan, Turkmenistan, Uzbekistan, and Russia. The Russian Federation was represented by Head of International Affairs Department at Altai State University Alexey Yu. Rezinkin and Project Manager of Russian-Chinese Committee for Friendship, Peace and Development Evgeni Avlasevich.

The program was very busy with events of different format and consisted of two parts: business (official) and cultural (excursion).

The official part of the visit included the meeting between delegates and Director of the Department of European-Central Asian Affairs under Chinese Ministry of Foreign Affairs Gui Congyou. Gui Congyou welcomed the guests and told them about the contemporary state and prospects for further development of international relations between China and delegates’ native countries.

Alexey Yu. Rezinkin also delivered a speech at the meeting and elaborated on Altai State University’s positive experience in establishment of partner relations with Chinese organizations in science and education. He touched upon further development of Russian-Chinese academic cooperation and SCO Network University, where Altai State University plays a significant role, being one of the head establishments. At the end of the meeting A.Yu. Rezinkin presented Gui Congyou with souvenirs on behalf of Altai State University.

In the course of the second part of the visit the delegates were taken on a tour to Beijing Foreign Studies University. The university was established in 1941 and was one of the first Chinese higher education establishments to specialize in linguistic education. For the present moment, 72 different languages are taught at Beijing Foreign Studies University. The establishment consists of 13 faculties, 7 academic department and more than 10 scientific and research institutes.

Beijing Foreign Studies University has Institute of the Russian Language and Center for the Russian Language supported by Russkiy Mir Foundation. There A.Yu. Rezinkin gave a speech on broad experience of Altai State University in international cooperation with Chinese partner universities and educational programs at Faculty of Mass Communications, Philology and Political Science and Faculty of History, where Chinese students study. He also discussed establishment of partner relations with the institute, possibility of organizing academic mobility programs, linguistic training and realization of joint educational programs in the framework of SCO University. Currently, the cooperation agreement between the universities is being prepared and will be signed soon.

During the cultural part of the program delegates also visited the Chinese Wall, the Imperial Palace, Tiananmen Square, Chaoyang Theater, and Huawei Corporation.

All the Chinese colleagues and delegates from other countries were invited to the III Asian Student Forum, which will be held on 14–18 September 2017 at Altai State University.

Altai State University expresses gratitude for the high level of organization and confirms he willingness to continue cooperation between educational, cultural, social and business organizations of SCO countries.