Source: Peoples’Friendship University of Russia –
An important disclaimer is at the bottom of this article.
At RUDN University, New Year comes twice. On the eve, its walls were filled with music, bright colors, and festive buzz. This time in honor of the upcoming Year of the Horse according to the lunar calendar.
The event “Prelude to Spring Festival: The Whole World Watches CMG Gala Concert” brought together distinguished guests, diplomats, students, and faculty in RUDN main building. Among them were Zhang Hanhui, Ambassador Extraordinary and Plenipotentiary of China to Russia; Boris Titov, Chairman of the Russian part of the Russian-Chinese Friendship, Peace and Development Committee; Konstantin Mogilevsky, Deputy Minister of Science and Higher Education of the Russian Federation; Anatoly Tsvyk, representative of the Russian Foreign Ministry; and heads of leading media outlets. Before the official part and concert began, guests could try their hand at the traditional game of Touhu, assemble the “Luban lock” puzzle, cut patterns using the Jianzhi technique, and write New Year’s wishes at calligraphy workshops—Chunlian.
Spring that is always with us
Opening the ceremonial part, General Director and Editor-in-Chief of China Media Group (CMG) Shen Haixiong addressed the guests via video link, noting the scale and global significance of the gala concert. Then the Chinese Ambassador took the floor. Zhang Hanhui reminded everyone: The Spring Festival is not just a change of calendar, but a symbol of renewal, family warmth, and hope.
“The idea of renewal and harmony embodied in the Spring Festival resonates remarkably accurately with the current stage of Chinese-Russian relations. As Russian President Vladimir Putin recently said: ’For Russian-Chinese relations, it is spring at any time of year.’ Trade turnover between China and Russia has exceeded $200 billion for the third consecutive year, and its structure is becoming increasingly balanced and sustainable. The Years of Culture have successfully concluded, the visa-free regime has entered into force, and contacts between the residents of our countries are becoming ever closer. On the international stage, we are strengthening coordination, jointly promoting reform of the global governance system in the interests of greater justice and equality,” — Zhang Hanhui.
RUDN President Vladimir Filippov emphasized the special significance of choosing this venue for the event. The university, where students from more than 160 countries currently study, has become a home for thousands of young people from China. And the numbers speak for themselves.
“This year we accepted a record number of students from China, more than 1,500 people. And in total, there are now more than 2,500 of them. At the same time, 565 students enrolled in state-funded places under the quota of the Russian Government. They went through a serious selection process,” — Vladimir Filippov.
He also recalled that the course toward strengthening ties with the East was set by the Russian President back in 2000. Vladimir Putin’s first foreign visit as head of state was precisely to China.
“Even then, the course toward the East was laid. And today we see how this decision has become the foundation of a new architecture of international interaction,” said Vladimir Filippov.
Also, RUDN President addressed the tasks of the reciprocal Years of Education of Russia and China, announced by the leaders of the two countries.
“This period should not become just a series of one-off events. We need to create a system that will continue to work afterward. We are already implementing 15 joint educational programs. Also, we have 90 agreements with Chinese universities. Currently, we are negotiating the creation of an international center based on RUDN and Xi’an University within the framework of the Shanghai Cooperation Organization,” said Vladimir Filippov.
Diplomacy and Education: A Common Path
Speaking on stage, Deputy Minister of Science and Higher Education of the Russian Federation Konstantin Mogilevsky drew attention to a symbolic coincidence: Chinese New Year this year coincided with Diplomatic Worker’s Day.
“Strengthening the partnership between Russia and China is largely the merit of our foreign policy agencies. But the key role in preserving the achieved level of mutual understanding and passing it on to the next generations is played precisely by education,” — said Konstantin Mogilevsky.
Konstantin Ilyich also announced a rich program for the reciprocal Years of Education and thanked RUDN for the concert being one of the first events of the thematic two-year period. According to him, the events will cover educational, scientific, youth, and intercultural cooperation, as well as the popularization of studying Russian and Chinese languages.
On behalf of Andrey Rudenko, Deputy Minister of Foreign Affairs of the Russian Federation, the guests were welcomed by Anatoly Tsvyk, Second Secretary of the First Asian Department of the Russian Foreign Ministry. In the greeting he read out, the role of the university in training personnel for bilateral relations was emphasized.
“In the era of innovation, highly qualified specialists are in demand. It is they who will bear the responsibility for promoting Russian-Chinese strategic interaction in the near future,” said Anatoly Tsvyk.
Roundelay of Dances and a Memorable Gift
However, the “Prelude to Spring Festival” was not only official speeches but also a true kaleidoscope of cultures. The Russian National Ballet “Kostroma” spun the hall in the dance “Bystrinochka,” and then students from Moscow’s universities took the stage with the composition “Blue and White Porcelain“—delicate, like a porcelain cup, and equally graceful.
Viewers also saw the instantaneous “mask” changes performed by Sichuan Opera artists, heard the “Pinyin Alphabet Song” from students of Moscow School No. 548. The program concluded with the dance number “Festival”. RUDN students charged the hall with the energy and rhythm of African, Asian, Latin American, and Russian folk melodies.
The culmination of the event was the presentation of a gift by the Society of Russian-Chinese Friendship. Artist Anna Donchenko, a student of the renowned master Gu Damin, presented a painting titled “The Horse Brings Good Luck” to Wang Bing, Head of the Eurasian Bureau of CMG. Right on stage, she completed the work by writing in hieroglyphs the phrase “The swift-footed steed rushes forward uncontrollably.”
In addition, the online Chinese language school “Media Plus” announced support for 15 subsidized educational trips to Chongqing for representatives of RUDN. So, this year, university students will have even more opportunities to see China with their own eyes.
The Spring Festival at RUDN has concluded, but its overture is just beginning to sound. Ahead is a live broadcast of the CMG Gala Concert on February 16 on VK, screenings on Poklonnaya Hill on the 17th, and most importantly two reciprocal years that promise to be a time of genuine breakthrough in education and friendship between the two countries.
As noted by university President Vladimir Filippov: “The Horse is about energy and movement toward a goal. Let us wish each other not to slow down the pace”,
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