The China-Russia Years of Education art education exchange series was launched on Thursday night at the Central Conservatory of Music in Beijing.
The two-year art event aims to further implement bilateral education cooperation agreements and inject new vitality into people-to-people and cultural exchanges, as well as education collaboration between China and Russia.
The series spans music, fine arts, dance, drama and academic exchanges, featuring performances, exhibitions, joint curriculum development, faculty and student visits, and co-creation projects.
It seeks to expand cooperation in art education, build a platform for youth cultural exchange, and strengthen the cultural foundation for mutual understanding and people-to-people bonds between the two nations.
The opening ceremony took the form of a concert, blending symphony, folk music, choral performances, and cutting-edge artificial intelligence technology. Faculty and students from the Central Conservatory of Music, along with Chinese and Russian artists, performed classic works from both countries, showcasing the achievements of art education on both sides.
Melissa Baidak, a 26-year-old doctoral student from Russia at Beijing Foreign Studies University, said the China-Russia Years of Education, which runs from 2026 to 2027, has taken on real meaning for her. "I have been learning languages since I was young, and my studies are closely related to education. But after coming to China, I never imagined I would be able to participate in the China-Russia Years of Education in person," she said.
Speaking about the growing exchanges between young people of the two countries, Melissa said, "I believe this is a golden moment, a golden era for bilateral relations. Our two countries have a cooperative model of mutual assistance. Most importantly, the relationship is built on friendship and a bond. We need to work together to make the China-Russia relationship even better."
Reflecting on her time studying in China, she added she feels "very comfortable" studying in China and Chinese people are "very warm-hearted."
Being in a language-rich environment has allowed her to learn a lot of new things and deepen her understanding of Chinese culture. China is vast and has diverse cultures worth exploring. Learning culture in the language environment is more interesting, meaningful and effective, she said.
Sabrina Malikova, 20, a Russian student at Beijing Foreign Studies University, said she has been learning Chinese for 11 years. "I have always had a strong interest in Chinese culture. I find Chinese characters very beautiful, so I started learning Chinese."
She noted that the enthusiasm for learning Chinese has grown rapidly in Russia. "Yes, many people are learning Chinese. There is now a Chinese language fever in Russia, and learning Chinese has become a common trend." Some schools offer Chinese courses at the primary, middle and high school levels, as well as at universities, she added.
The China-Russia Years of Education promotes educational exchanges through activities, forums, exchange meetings and other forms, she said. Many Russians will come to China, and many Chinese will go to Russia. This will enable people from both countries to get to know each other and learn from each other. It will certainly help strengthen the friendship between China and Russia, she added.
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