The scale of interaction between Russia and China in the framework of the cross Years of Education was supported by official data at a reception at the Chinese Embassy in Moscow, which took place last Friday.

According to Vice-Rector for Youth Policy Elena Khitrova, who represented the Irkutsk Region and attended the reception: "It was noted that the integration of the educational systems of the two countries reached record levels: 16 associations of specialized universities were formed, which connect more than 800 Russian and Chinese universities; 150 joint educational institutions and programs aimed at training successfully operate; the total number of participants in bilateral academic mobility is rapidly approaching 100 thousand people".

The scientific and educational alliance with 26 partners of BSU from China also brings good results:

• successful implementation of unique international profiles in 5 double diploma programs;
• over 300 Russian students of BSU simultaneously study Chinese as the first or second foreign language;
• about 200 students of BSU annually visit the PRC as part of academic mobility and the same number of Chinese students come to BSU;
• the university annually sends its teachers of the Russian language as a foreign language to the PRC to conduct academic work on the basis of partner universities, organizes educational exchanges;
• BSU publishes a specialized scientific journal "Russian-Chinese Studies," which publishes articles by Russian and Chinese scientists;
• concluded an agreement on strategic interaction in the field of basic and applied sciences with the Chinese Academy of Social Sciences;
• within the framework of scientific areas of BSU, more than 10 initiative research projects on Russian-Chinese issues are being conducted.

"The university is constantly looking for opportunities for mutually beneficial, equal interaction, for launching new projects that will enrich both Russia and China. It is worth mentioning the opening ceremony of the Years of Cooperation in Education by the leaders of our countries Vladimir Putin and Xi Jinping. We are proud that the best students of Baikal University studying at Beijing University of Foreign Economics and Trade were invited to this event. Of course, this made an indelible impression on the guys" - noted Vice-Rector for Research and International Activities Lyudmila Sanina.