This Chinese phrase, said in Chinese during the welcoming speech of Alexey Kotelnikov, acting head of the regional office of the Ministry of Foreign Affairs of Russia in Irkutsk, became a message for all participants of the exhibition of higher education of China, which was held at Irkutsk State University. The top figures of science and education of the Irkutsk Region and China gathered at ISU Scientific Library to assess the potential of possible cooperation. In addition to Alexey Kotelnikov, the guests and participants of the exhibition were greeted by Zhang Jun, Deputy of the Party Committee of the People’s Republic of China Scholarship Council, Li Hai, Consul General of the Consulate General of the People’s Republic of China in Irkutsk, Elena Apanovich, Deputy Minister of Education of Irkutsk Oblast and, of course, by ISU Rector, Professor Alexander Schmidt.

Alexander Schmidt:

Irkutsk State University has more than 50 agreements on cooperation with educational organizations of China. Within the framework of those agreements, we are implementing educational projects, conduct joint research in such areas as archaeology, chemistry, history, linguistics, economics, journalism and many others, exchange scientific publications, participate in international conferences, organize cultural and educational short-term programs. ISU highly appreciates cooperation with Chinese partners and is ready to expand the areas of bilateral academic cooperation. We are confident that cooperation in the educational field helps to expand horizons and plays an important role in ensuring successful intercultural communication between the peoples of our countries.

The exhibition at the university was organized jointly with the China Scholarship Council. The Scholarship Council supports international students who come to study in China, and supports Chinese students who go to study abroad.

Zhang Jun, Deputy of the Party Committee of the People’s Republic of China Scholarship Council:

Exchanges and cooperation between China and other countries in the field of higher education are expanding. In 2023, the number of Chinese students studying abroad was about 1 million, which allows China to maintain its status as the world’s largest source of international students. At the same time, with China’s growing influence in the international arena, education in China has become one of the most attractive destinations for international students around the world. In 2023, more than 350 000 foreign students studied in China.

Chinese speech at the exhibition sounded on a par with Russian. Chinese language and culture lovers gathered in the assembly hall of the Scientific Library to learn about the possibilities of studying at universities in China. They came not only from Irkutsk, but also from neighboring cities. The exhibition featured 18 leading universities of the People’s Republic of China, including Tsinghua University, Xiamen University, Beijing University of Technology and Harbin Institute of Technology. The participants of the exhibition told the guests about educational programs, aspects of education and life in China. Most of the participants and guests were spoke Chinese, but those who needed translation were helped by students of the Institute of Philology of Foreign Languages and Media Communication, the International Institute of Economics and Linguistics, ISU Confucius Institute and other institutes and faculties of the university. But the Consul General of the Consulate General of the People’s Republic of China in Irkutsk, Li Hai, did not need an interpreter. He communicated with the visitors of the exhibition in Russian.

Li Hai, Consul General of the Consulate General of the People’s Republic of China in Irkutsk:

There are now 3 117 higher education institutions in China with more than 47 million students. The coverage rate of higher education exceeds 60%. The level of higher education has increased significantly, and the level of education of the population has increased noteworthily as well.
Cooperation between Russia and China in the field of higher education has yielded fruitful results. More than 44 thousand Chinese students study at Russian universities. More than 12 thousand Russian students study at Chinese universities. Both countries have created a total of 13 associations of universities, with more than 700 Chinese and Russian universities-participants, which has become the largest network of exchanges and cooperation in the field of higher education in the world.

During the exhibition, a meeting was held between ISU and China Scholarship Council. The rector of ISU Alexander Schmidt, ISU Confucius Institute Director Svetlana Bayramova, representatives of the administration and teachers of ISU Confucius Institute, head of the Department of International Relations Yulia Elokhina participated in the meeting on the part of ISU. The Chinese side was represented by Zhang Jun, Deputy Secretary of the China Scholarship Council Committee, Wang Jing, Deputy Head of the Department for the recruitment of Foreign Students of the China Scholarship Council, Mei Shishi, Head of the Administrative Department of the China Scholarship Council, Zhao Chunlu, Consul for Education of the Consulate General of the People’s Republic of China in Irkutsk. The parties discussed the possibilities of developing further cooperation. Currently, 9 students from China study at ISU on a scholarship from the Council and 16 graduates of Irkutsk State University have received grants to study at Chinese universities.