Penza State University continues cooperation with colleagues from China. Today, on December 4, the University representatives took part in the VII Forum of the Volga-Yangtze Association of Universities. The Russian and Chinese sides discussed the role of the Association in developing Russian-Chinese cooperation. The participants summed up the results and outlined plans for further cooperation.

Penza State University was represented by: Gleb Sintsov, Vice-Rector for International Affairs, Sergey Ivanchin, Head of the International Education Office, Olga Meshcheryakova, Head of the International Relations Office, and Tatiana Razuvaeva, Head of the International Projects Department.

The event was opened by Oleg Mashkovtsev, Deputy Plenipotentiary Representative of the President of the Russian Federation in the Volga Federal District. He greeted the Chinese and Russian delegates on behalf of Igor Komarov, Plenipotentiary Representative of the President of Russia in the Volga Federal District and on his own behalf. The speaker highly praised the work of the Association on deepening Russian-Chinese academic cooperation:

“Holding the forum confirms the willingness of higher education institutions to have constructive dialogue on current issues of interuniversity cooperation.”

He recalled that in August 2024, the IX Russian-Chinese Youth Forum in the Volga-Yangtze format was held in Saratov. More than 300 representatives of student youth from universities of the Volga Federal District and the provinces of the upper and middle reaches of the Yangtze River of the People's Republic of China took part in it.

"The youth of our countries have demonstrated a desire to further strengthen friendship and mutual understanding. I believe that our higher education institutions have enormous potential for interaction. And I hope that the work of the Association will help further intensify inter-university contacts and implement joint scientific and educational programmes and projects," Oleg Mashkovtsev expressed hope.

It should be noted that next year the Forum of the Volga-Yangtze Association of Universities is planned to be held in person in one of the regions of the Volga Federal District.

Xi Zhu, Advisor to the Ministry of Education of the People's Republic of China, wished the audience fruitful work. In his speech, he emphasized that such events develop Russian-Chinese university partnership. Chinese and Russian students have the opportunity to exchange experience and knowledge in scientific, technical, educational, and humanitarian fields. Such cooperation strengthens the strategic partnership between Russia and China.

Then, the co-chairs of the Volga-Yangtze Association of Universities spoke at the opening ceremony. From the Chinese side, Wang Jinsong, Rector of Sichuan University, from the Russian side, Sergey Dmitriev, Rector of Nizhny Novgorod State Technical University. They emphasized that the interaction of Russian and Chinese universities participating in the Association is expanding every year, which proves the effectiveness of this mechanism.

"The high level of trust allows us to intensively develop cooperation in the fields of education, science, economics and culture. Friendly relations between Russia and China are being strengthened and consolidated by effective communication between people," shared Sergey Dmitriev.

He said that within the framework of the "cross" years of culture of Russia and China, many events are planned to be held in higher educational institutions. Thanks to this, academic exchanges between the countries in the areas of health care, sports, culture, and media are actively developing.

Interregional cooperation in the Volga-Yangtze format is a unique project. It implements several tasks at once: it develops international and interregional contacts, consolidates efforts to train highly qualified specialists, and expands academic exchange.

Wang Jinsong, Head of Sichuan University, wished the forum a successful outcome.

The first to present the results of cooperation with Chinese organizations was Penza State University. The report was given by Gleb Sintsov, Vice -Rector for International Affairs.
Then, representatives of higher education institutions of Nizhny Novgorod, Saratov, Ulyanovsk, the Republics of Mari El and Mordovia, and China reported on the work done, shared their experience of cooperation, and outlined future prospects.