
4 December 2019
December 4th, a delegation from the Institute of Russia, Eastern European and Central Asian Studies of the Chinese Academy of Social Sciences came to MGIMO.
The guests were greeted by the University’s Vice-Rector for Graduate and International Programs A. Baykov, the Head of the International Office, E. Andreev, the Deputy Dean of the School of International Relations E. Koldunova, the Head of the Department of Economic Policy and Private-public Partnerships E. Zavyalova, the Researcher at the Center for East Asian and SCO Studies I. Denisov and the Head of the Department of Chinese, Vietnamese, Thai and Lao O. Maslovets. Also attending were the Deputy Head of the International Office E. Timofeeva and the Leading Specialist in Public Relations of the International Office D. Chentsova.
The Chinese delegation, headed by Sun Zhuangzhi, the Director of the Institute of Russia, Eastern European and Central Asian Studies, also comprised the Head of the Strategic Research Department, Xue Futsi, the Head of the Russian Foreign Policy Department, Liu Fenghua, the Head of the Russian Economy Department, Xu Paulin, the Head of the Sociology Department Yang Dian, the Researcher Wang Chenxing and a representative of the European and Central Asian Department of the International Cooperation Department, Song Ping.
A. Baykov gave an opening speech, in which he described to the guests the different partnership agreements MGIMO has with Chinese universities and remarked that in recent years, the number of foreign students and particularly of Chinese students at the University has strongly increased. The Vice-Rector spoke about the dual degree programs, including «Russia and China: Economic and Political Trends in Eurasia», and the different directions for cooperation through the SCO Network Universities, BRICS, and MGIMO’s training program for young Chinese diplomats. During the meeting, the Heads of MGIMO departments and schools remarked upon the deepening of cooperation with Chinese partners, particularly on the basis of the Center for Comprehensive Chinese Studies and Regional Projects, the Center for East Asian and SCO Studies, the Institute for International Studies and the ASEAN Center, which promote interaction with Chinese scientists by organizing joint scientific conferences on current international political and economic issues and by supporting joint research and publishing activities. The Chinese delegation noted MGIMO’s rich experience in teaching the Chinese language and Sinology and students’ growing interest in this subject.
The parties agreed to begin cooperating and to develop joint research. Preparations will be made on both sides for the signing of a Memorandum of Understanding between MGIMO and the Institute of Russia, Eastern European and Central Asian Studies of the Chinese Academy of Social Sciences. A conference on various aspects of bilateral relations will also be set up.
— See the MGIMO web-site for russian version