President of the People’s Republic of China Xi
Jinping 
Xi JinpingPresident of People’s Republic of China (retranslated):
The launch of the Cross Years of China-Russia Cooperation in Education in this
landmark year is a strategic decision that Mr Putin and I have adopted based on the long-term development of Chinese-Russian relations.
Education is a major bridge connecting people’s
hearts and conveying friendship between nations. This is a noble project of our
age that benefits future generations.
Cooperation between China and Russia in education has been growing stronger and bringing tangible results for years.
The scale of bilateral student exchanges is consistently growing, cooperation
between our universities is steadily progressing, and coordination at the level
of research platforms and alliance mechanisms is becoming stronger. Taken
together, this translates into a steadily growing number of jointly trained
students and innovation projects, which are enriching the essence of Chinese-Russian relations of comprehensive partnership and strategic
interaction in the new era.
Friends,
Faculty and students,
Now that the world is changing at an unprecedented speed, strengthening ties and cooperation in education,
implementing innovations and ensuring stable development have become a common
choice for all countries. I hope that the Cross Years of Education will provide
a unique opportunity for enhancing our mutual understanding and cooperation,
expanding its scope and raising the level of our interaction.
It is essential to deepen our cooperation in personnel
training, foster close interaction between our universities and research
institutions, jointly train a team of world-class professionals, strengthen the strategic research potential of our countries, and join efforts to find
solutions to complex scientific problems to boost the innovative development of our countries.
It is important to implement the concept of cross-civilisational enrichment, maintain mutual respect and mutually
beneficial cooperation, promote the exchange of experience in the preservation
and development of our cultural heritage and education management, and work
together to enhance the standards of professionalism.
It is important to maintain our traditional
friendship, unlock the potential for cooperation in education, foster mutual
understanding, and encourage rapprochement between our peoples and friendship
between our young people through substantive exchanges, and raise the next
generation in the spirit of eternal friendship between China and Russia.
Friends,
Faculty and students,
The state flourishes when education blossoms.
Stronger education makes a great nation stronger. I am confident that we will
ensure the success of the Cross Years of China-Russia Cooperation in Education
through joint efforts, and that our cooperation will produce great results.
Thank you.
President of Russia Vladimir Putin: Mr President, ladies and gentlemen, friends,
First and foremost, I want to say that I fully
agree with my friend, President Xi Jinping: we are launching a truly landmark
and significant joint initiative – holding Years of Education. This marks the tenth bilateral cross-year project undertaken by Russia and China – a tradition
whereby we dedicate each initiative to one of the essential pillars of comprehensive partnership and strategic cooperation between our nations.
Both in Russia and in China, there is a deep
understanding that high-quality education is the bedrock of individual
development and of society as a whole – of people’s ability to realise their
potential and to advance professionally. Without it, economic progress is
inconceivable, and it is impossible to build a truly cohesive, strong and genuinely
sovereign state.
Allow me to quote a prominent Russian educator
Konstantin Ushinsky. He wrote: “One of the primary tasks of education is to introduce each new generation to humanity’s shared endeavour – its endless
striving towards the highest good.” I am confident that our Chinese friends
share this outlook. That is why our two countries will continue to jointly
expand and deepen our cooperation in education, drawing on the considerable
experience we have built up through mutually beneficial and enriching
collaboration.
I would like to remind you that Russia and China have established fifteen inter-university associations. A joint
Russian-Chinese university, based at Lomonosov Moscow State University and the Beijing Institute of Technology, is operating successfully. Furthermore, Moscow
State University, in partnership with Peking University, recently inaugurated
the Russian-Chinese Institute of Fundamental Research. Our immediate plans
include the launch of the Russian-Chinese Institute of Innovative Research by St Petersburg State University and Tsinghua University.
Naturally, we also greatly value the traditionally strong interest shown by our Chinese friends in studying Russian.
It is taught at more than 200 universities and 125 schools across the PRC. Over
66,000 Chinese students are currently enrolled in language courses in Russia.
Conversely, the number of Russian citizens
studying Chinese continues to grow year on year. That figure now exceeds
100,000, while another 20,000 Russians are mastering the language through
educational programmes in the People’s Republic of China.
As for the Years of Education, their programme
is very rich and diverse. It includes hundreds of projects in higher, secondary vocational and school education. Joint events will be
organised in collaboration with relevant agencies, leading educational
institutions and public organisations of both countries, encompassing the entire spectrum of Russian-Chinese academic and scientific cooperation.
An extensive series of conferences and seminars
for teachers, as well as competitions and summer schools for students in Russia
and China, has been scheduled.
Special attention will be given to breakthrough
academic disciplines related to the implementation of innovative technologies,
with a view to establishing joint laboratories and advanced research centres in knowledge-intensive fields.
The Years’ programme naturally encompasses the humanities and historical sciences. I consider it fundamentally important that
the Russian Historical Society and the Chinese Academy of Social Sciences have
commenced work on a comprehensive, large-scale study of the Second World War.
It will be devoted to the decisive role of our countries in the victory over
Nazism and Japanese militarism, and to the inadmissibility of distorting
historical truth.
Friends,
Taking this opportunity, I would like to address young people, all those who take part in Russian-Chinese educational
and scientific exchanges and sincerely wish each and every one of you to find a vocation that resonates with your aspirations, to achieve personal fulfilment,
to devote yourselves wholeheartedly to your work and to attain outstanding
results on the path you have chosen.
In due course, you will assume responsibility
for preserving and enhancing the rich traditions and partnership between Russia
and China. I am convinced that you are fully equal to this responsibility and that you will successfully address all, even the most ambitious, tasks
pertaining to the advancement of Russian-Chinese cooperation, the prospects of which are truly boundless.
Thank you.