Advancing China-Russia education cooperation: Russian education exhibition held during 2026 CIFTIS in Beijing

The year 2026 marks the 30th anniversary of the establishment of the China-Russia strategic partnership of coordination and the 25th anniversary of the signing of the China-Russia Treaty of Good-Neighborliness and Friendly Cooperation. Chinese President Xi Jinping and Russian President Vladimir Putin designated 2026 and 2027 as the China-Russia Years of Education. To promote people-to-people friendship and celebrate the China-Russia Years of Education, the BPAFFC and the Russian Cultural Center in Beijing are co-hosting a Russian education exhibition from September 9 to 13 during the 2026 China International Fair for Trade in Services (CIFTIS).

The launch ceremony was held at Shougang Park Hall 8 on September 9, and attended by representatives from the co-hosts, the Russian Embassy in China, Russian exhibitors, institutional directors of the BPAFFC, as well as Chinese and Russian media organizations.

Wang Yu, Party Secretary and Executive Vice President of the BPAFFC, noted in his address that Beijing, China’s capital and cultural center, serves as a key window for China-Russia cultural and people-to-people exchanges. This Russian education exhibition is a vivid example of the BPAFFC to implement the strategic plan for the China-Russia Years of Education and to promote people-to-people friendship and education cooperation between China and Russia. He hoped that both sides would take the exhibition as an opportunity to deepen cooperation in talent training and jointly foster a pool of world-class talents; uphold the vision of mutual learning between civilizations, and promote the inheritance of civilizations and exchanges of experience in education governance. He also called for efforts to carry forward the longstanding friendship and promote greater understanding and amity between the people of the two countries.

Olga Melnikova, Counsellor of the Russian Embassy and Director of the Russian Cultural Center in Beijing, said that China-Russia relations are a paradigm of major country diplomacy, and the designation of the China-Russia Years of Education by Chinese and Russian heads of state underscore the key role of education in fostering future cooperation. The Russian Cultural Center in Beijing is deeply honored to co-host the exhibition during 2026 CIFTIS, which focuses on education, science, culture, and tourism. She expressed the hope that China and Russia would continue to engage in dialogue, carry out cooperation, and create a better future together.

The exhibition has received strong support from the Trade Representative Office of the Russian Federation in China. Deputy Representative Yevgeny Manturov stated that the trade in services sector boasts enormous potential and is expected to become one of the new growth drivers for Russia-China economic and trade cooperation. He expressed a readiness to help more Russian enterprises enter the Chinese market, find reliable partners, and turn new ideas and models into actionable projects.

To facilitate this exhibition, the Russian side sent to Beijing a delegation headed by Dmitriy Klimov, Vice-Rector of the Lipetsk State Pedagogical University. He said that the university has always been open to in-depth integrated development, and the combination of Russia’s strength in basic disciplines and China’s dynamic education market will surely inject strong impetus into the development of human resources in both countries.

The exhibition features four sections: Russian education, tourism, cultural and creative industries, as well as language and culture. Focused on Russian teaching methods, study-abroad support, tourism promotion and talent exchange, it aims to build a bridge for China-Russia cultural and people-to-people exchanges and establish a platform for bilateral education exchanges. After the launch ceremony, Chinese and Russian guests visited the exhibition area. Universities such as China Foreign Affairs University, Beijing University of Technology, Beijing International Studies University, Beijing Union University, and Capital University of Physical Education and Sports had in-depth discussions with the Russian side.

A variety of events take place during the exhibition, including education, culture, and tourism promotion sessions, presentations by Russian higher education institutions, study-abroad consulting, simulated guided tours, and a Russian matryoshka doll-making workshop.

Young artists perform classic Russian songs.