Penza State University has a long-standing tradition of cooperation with the universities of the Gansu Province (north-west of China). The Gansu Province and the Penza region have been twin-regions since May, 2001, and joint projects of these two regions are closely interrelated, enriching cultural heritage, contributing to the development of economic activities of both regions. Currently a new project in joint master’s degree education in ‘International Economics’ is being realized.

As part of the development of this educational programme, a team from Penza State University, headed by S.M. Vasin, Rector's counsellor and head of the department 'Economic Theory and International Relations' and O.V. Meshcheryakova, head of the International Cooperation Office, paid a visit to the Gansu Province from 17.03.2015 till 19.03.2015. Our university members met with the representative of Lanzhou City University – administrative and teaching staff of the Faculty of Economics and Law.

Pezna guests discussed the details of the project under development, visited classrooms, libraries, noted that the classroom equipment is modern and meets the latest requirements in education. Chinese students watched the presentation of the joint master's education programme in 'International Economics' and had an interesting talk with S.M. Vasin on particulars of the programme. Representatives of Penza State University and Lanzhou City University signed an agreement on the joint master's programme in Economics (profile 'International Economics).

Another university of the Ganzu Province – Lanzhou University of Transport – currently pays host to the team of students from Penza State University under the supervision of N.V. Shchennikova, teacher of the Faculty of History, Language and Literature. The student group are taking a short-term course in Chinese language and culture. S.M. Vasin and O.V. Meshcheryakova also visited Lanzhou University of Transport, watched our students studying Chinese and doing a social programme. Lanzhou University of Transport is going to train three students from Penza State University, who will have free accomodation, training and have a living allowance of 3000 yuan (about 30 000 roubles), as was agreed with the Director of the Faculty of International Education.