On November 7, Irkutsk State University hosted a delegation from Liaoning University. The delegation was welcomed by Rector Alexander Schmidt:

Our cooperation has been developing for over 30 years and Liaoning University continues to be one of ISU’s most significant international partners. We are pleased that the cooperation continues to develop, with new initiatives for work in various fields emerging from both sides. At the same time, areas such as promoting Russian-Chinese dialogue and intercultural communication through the activities of the Chinese Language Centre “ISU Confucius Institute” remain highly significant.

Representatives of the universities exchanged views on further cooperation. The Rector of ISU also thanked the representatives of Liaoning University for organizing summer schools for ISU students and students of ISU Confucius Institute.

Vice-Rector Huo Chunhui noted that the cooperation between the universities makes a significant contribution to the development of the twin regions and is highly valued by the leadership of Liaoning Province.

The parties signed a new agreement to extend cooperation on the development of ISU Confucius Institute. Director Svetlana Bayramova reported on the institute’s events and achievements, including the preparation of a new textbook jointly developed by Russian and Chinese teachers at the Confucius Institute.

After the meeting, the delegation from Liaoning University, headed by Vice-Rector Huo Chunhui, visited ISU Confucius Institute.

The academic cooperation between ISU and Liaoning University has been ongoing since 1993. The interaction between the two universities has become more than just cooperation under an inter-university agreement – a genuine friendship connects the teams of Irkutsk State University and Liaoning University. Established through joint efforts in 2007, the Confucius Institute is a powerful tool for the development of Russian-Chinese university partners.

The Chinese Language Centre “ISU Confucius Institute” combines educational, cultural and scientific activities. Its lecturers develop informational resources for the centre’s students, professional development programmes for the Chinese language teachers and provide consultations on obtaining education in China.

The centre is the only educational organization in Irkutsk where one can take the Hanyu Shuiping Kaoshi (HSK), a standardized qualification exam in Chinese for non-native speakers, the results of which are recognized worldwide.