Today, as part of the Days of China in Saratov Region festival, a delegation of the Russian-Chinese Friendship Society visited Saratov State University.

The SSU guests were Ambassador Extraordinary and Plenipotentiary, Chair of the Department of Diplomacy, MGIMO University, Kirill Barskii, Senior Researcher at the Centre for Social-Economic Research of China Alexander Pikover, a representative at the Russian-Chinese Friendship Society Sergei Semyonov, and Senior Researcher at the Centre for the Study of Chinese Culture Anastasia Blazhkina.

The officials and researchers met with Acting Rector, Vice-Rector for Research and Digital Development Alexei Koronovskii and Vice-Rector for International Affairs Dmitrii Konakov. The guests were accompanied by Chair of the Saratov regional department of the RCFS, Associate Professor of the Department of Philosophy of Culture and Cultural Studies Vladimir Ruchin, and the information officer of the Ministry of Culture of Saratov Region Sergei Rubtsov.

Alexei Koronovskii introduced colleagues to the history of Saratov State University and modern achievements. ‘For students, the Days of China Festival is an opportunity to learn firsthand about the areas of cooperation between our countries,’ he noted.

Dmitrii Konakov spoke about the university success in international activities. Today, students from 40 countries, including China, are studying at the university. The SSU researchers are conducting a lot of joint research with Chinese colleagues.

Prof. Kirill Barskii, Chair of the Department of Diplomacy, MGIMO, marked that the delegation visited Saratov also to support the regional branch of the Russian-Chinese Friendship Society. ‘There are 25 RCFS branches in Russia, but this is the first time we are visiting the region with such a large delegation. We would like to cooperate and promote communication with the Chinese side. Today, we are holding a meeting of like-minded people at the university. It is very interesting for us to get to know your teaching staff and students,’ he said.

The guests visited the SSU History Museum. The tour was conducted by the director of the museum Larisa Shipilova. She outlined the main milestones in the history of the university, and told the guests about the key university areas.

Prof. Kirill Barskii gave a lecture to students of the Institute of History and International Relations on the importance of people's diplomacy between Russia and China in terms of the radical changes in the world and in Eurasia.

He spoke about the tools for creating the most favourable conditions for China's internal and external development and about the tasks set for the country by President of the People's Republic of China Xi Jinping.

The ambassador recalled some of the Chinese projects – the Belt and Road Initiative, the Community of Common Destiny for Mankind concept, the new Silk Road. ‘Chinese diplomacy today is aimed at using new ideologies to stimulate cooperation in various fields. These innovations are based on traditional foreign policy principles,’ Kirill Barskii noted.

The lecturer paid attention to the history of the development of relations between Russia and China, the foreign policy of the countries, interaction as part of the SCO, ASEAN, and BRICS.

At the end of the lecture, Vice-Rector for International Affairs Dmitrii Konakov, Director of the Institute of History and International Relations Tatyana Cherevichko, and Senior Researcher at the Centre for Social-Economic Research of China Alexander Pikover shared their vision of the development of diplomatic relations between Russia and China. The students asked Prof. Kirill Barskii interesting questions.

Another lecture as part of the Days of China will be held on February 20 in Bldg. 12. It will be delivered by the Secretary of the Commission for Cultural and Humanitarian Cooperation, the Central Board, the RCFS, Anastasia Blazhkina. Its topic is 2,575 years since the birth of Confucius.

The Days of China in Saratov Region festival takes place in Saratov from February 19 to 21. It is timed to coincide with the 75th anniversary of the establishment of diplomatic relations between Russia and China, as well as the Years of Russian-Chinese Culture.