ON May 21, Russian Deputy Prime Minister Dmitry Chernyshenko attended a symposium at Shenzhen MSU-BIT University (SMBU). Visiting with Chernyshenko were Maxim Oreshkin, deputy chief of staff of the Russian Presidential Executive Office, Andrey Nikitin, minister of transport, and Yuri Teplov, Russia’s consul general in Guangzhou.

SMBU’s rector Li Hezhang, first vice rector Sergei Ivanchenko, and Chen Chaofeng, the university’s deputy Party secretary, received the Russian delegation together with faculty heads.

The Russian guests toured the university’s history museum, and visited two exhibitions themed respectively on Chinese students in Russia over the past century and the achievements in Sino-Russia education exchange, particularly in building SMBU into a top university.

They also visited the Lab for Artificial Intelligence Algorithms and Applications and the Lab for Nanostructured Optoelectronic Functional Materials and Devices — both national-level labs co-built by China and Russia, as well as the Experimental Teaching Center of the Economics Faculty. The delegates talked with students and faculty members and heard about the latest developments in research.

In his speech at the symposium, Chernyshenko recalled the official launch of the Russia-China Education Cooperation Year. Chinese President Xi Jinping and Russian President Vladimir Putin attended the event held at the Great Hall of the People in Beijing on May 20, a gesture that signifies the importance both countries place on fostering people-to-people connections and cultural cooperation.

Chernyshenko affirmed SMBU’s achievements over the past decade, praising the university’s environment and infrastructure. He pledged that the Russian government will continue to support the development of SMBU, a flagship project of Russia-China cooperation in education.

Rector Li, on behalf of the university, warmly welcomed Chernyshenko and his delegation and thanked the Russian government for its consistent support. He reviewed SMBU’s journey in the past decade, briefing the guests on its track record in talent cultivation, faculty development, scientific research, and cultural exchanges.

Echoing the consensus of the Chinese and Russian heads of state, Li pledged the university will continue to deepen Sino-Russian educational cooperation and build connections between the two peoples.

The two sides exchanged gifts after the symposium. Chernyshenko also left an encouraging message in the university’s guestbook.