The two-year-long China-Russia Years of Education commenced on May 20 in Beijing. Jia Wenjian, deputy secretary of the CPC Beijing Foreign Studies University (BFSU) Committee and BFSU's president, attended the opening ceremony.

BFSU's representatives pose for a group photo at the opening ceremony of the China-Russia Years of Education. [Photo/bfsu.edu.cn]

The China-Russia Years of Education is a significant initiative aimed at deepening comprehensive strategic cooperation, enhancing mutual understanding, and implementing cultural exchange agreements between the two nations.

During the opening ceremony's artistic performance, three Chinese students and two Russian students from BFSU's School of Russian, along with doctoral students from the BFSU's National Research Center of Foreign Language Education, performed a bilingual poetry recital titled Tian Ya Gong Ci Shi specially created for the event.

The performance featured six classic poems from Russian and Chinese literary history, showcasing the students' solid professional skills and emotions, which earned them enthusiastic applause from the audience.

Additionally, six Russian students from BFSU participated in a choral performance with the Central Conservatory of Music, using melodious tunes to convey the deep friendship between China and Russia.

Jia Wenjian expressed that BFSU, known as the "cradle of diplomats" and a key university for cultivating Russian language and cultural talents, will actively engages in various activities of the China-Russia Years of Education.

He highlighted that the university will deepen educational cooperation and cultural exchanges with Russia, nurturing more outstanding talents proficient in both language and culture. He also encouraged participating faculty and students to act as bridges of cultural exchange and friendship between the two countries.

Meanwhile, at this pivotal moment of the China-Russia Years of Education, cooperation agreements between BFSU and the Peoples’ Friendship University of Russia, as well as BFSU and the Russian Federal Agency for Youth Affairs, were signed. These agreements highlight BFSU's deep expertise and educational strength in Russian talent cultivation and cultural exchange, underscoring its significant role and international influence in promoting China-Russia educational cooperation.

BFSU will continue to take education as a link and talent as a bridge to deepen educational cooperation and cultural exchanges with Russia, cultivating more successors, promoters, and practitioners of China-Russia friendship.