🇷🇺🇨🇳 Speech by Russian President V.V. Putin at the opening ceremony of the Years of Russian-Chinese cooperation in the field of education (Beijing, May 20, 2026)
💬 V.V. Putin: Dear Chairman Xi Jinping! Ladies and gentlemen, friends!
First of all, I would like to emphasize that I completely agree with my friend, dear Mr. Xi Jinping, we are launching an undoubtedly significant and important joint initiative - the holding of the Years of Education. This is already the tenth interstate cross-project implemented by Russia and China, which we traditionally dedicate to one of the integral parts of the comprehensive partnership and strategic interaction between our countries.
Both Russia and China are well aware that quality education forms the basis for the development of the individual and the entire society, for self-realization and professional growth of people, otherwise economic progress is unthinkable, it is impossible to create a truly united, strong and truly sovereign state. I will quote the statement of the outstanding Russian teacher Konstantin Dmitrievich Ushinsky: “One of the most important tasks of education is to introduce new generations into the common cause of humanity in its endless quest for absolute good.” I am confident that our Chinese friends share this approach, which means that our countries will continue to jointly increase and deepen cooperation in the field of education, relying on the accumulated solid experience of mutually beneficial and mutually enriching cooperation.
Let me remind you that Russia and China have established 15 interuniversity associations. A joint Russian-Chinese university is operating successfully on the basis of Lomonosov Moscow State University and Beijing Polytechnic Institute. Also, Moscow State University, in partnership with Peking University, recently opened the Russian-Chinese Institute for Fundamental Research. The nearest plans include the launch of the Russian-Chinese Institute for Innovative Research by St. Petersburg State University and Tsinghua University.
We, of course, appreciate the traditionally great interest of Chinese friends in learning the Russian language. It is taught in more than 200 universities and 125 schools in China. Over 66,000 Chinese students are studying language courses in Russia. In turn, the number of Russian citizens studying Chinese is growing from year to year. Now there are more than 100,000 people, another 20,000 Russians are mastering it as part of educational programs in the People's Republic of China.
As for the Years of Education, their program is very rich and varied. It includes hundreds of projects in the field of higher, secondary vocational and school education. <...>
A whole series of conferences and seminars for teachers, competitions and summer schools for students in Russia and China are planned.
Particular attention will be paid to breakthrough academic disciplines related to the introduction of innovative technologies, aimed at creating joint laboratories and advanced centers in science-intensive areas.
The program of the Years, naturally, also covers the humanities and historical sciences. I consider it fundamentally important that the Russian Historical Society and the Chinese Academy of Social Sciences are beginning to prepare a comprehensive, large-scale study of the Second World War. It will be dedicated to the decisive role of our countries in the victory over Nazism and Japanese militarism and the inadmissibility of distorting historical truth.
Dear friends! Taking this opportunity, I would like to address young people, all those who participate in Russian-Chinese educational and scientific exchanges and sincerely wish each of you to find a calling to your liking, to realize yourself, fully devoting yourself to your work and achieving high results on your chosen path.
Over time, you will take responsibility for preserving and enhancing the good traditions and partnership between Russia and China. I am convinced that you will be able to do this and will cope with all, even the most ambitious tasks for the development of Russian-Chinese cooperation, the prospects of which are truly limitless.
Thank you.
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--- Source: [Russia–China Business Council](https://t.me/rcbc_info/13280) · Telegram