A Chinese student studying in Moscow had the opportunity to immerse herself in the local culture, an extraordinary experience curated through "tasks" assigned by her Russian friend who is studying in Beijing.
Lu Ying, a PHD student majoring in journalism at Peoples' Friendship University of Russia, is passionate about promoting exchanges between young Chinese and Russians.
Eager to explore Moscow and its culture, Lu had her Russian friend set three "tasks" for her to get a real sense of daily life in Moscow and experience the city in all its facets.
The first task was to visit Gorky Park, dedicated to the Russian writer Maxim Gorky and renowned for its sculptures.
"The sculptures and Soviet-style arches here really give me a historical vibe. After I went into the Gorky Park, I also met very friendly volunteers. They gave me a ribbon like this to commemorate the Victory Day," said Lu.
The second task was to visit the Lenin library, which fascinated Lu with its vast collection of books.
"Here is the largest library in Europe, the Lenin Library, which stores 47 million books. Today, I also have a copy of Turgenev's 'Fathers and Sons' in my bag. Unlike Turgenev, I feel that Pushkin's poetry is like the waves of the Volga River, always emitting echoes in my heart," said Lu.
Following that, Lu tried the local delicacy of Russian cottage cheese pancakes.
"It tastes so good. I feel an explosion of creamy flavors in my mouth. It's served with sour cream. Let me try. It tastes like fried milk from China. but it is more creamy. As I said earlier, with sour cream, it is really amazing. During my life in Moscow, I have gradually got used to and fallen in love with Russian delicacies," said Lu.
At the end of her tour, Lu encouraged more people of her generation to foster the friendship between the two countries.
"We know that China and Russia are not only neighboring countries, but also partners. This is embodied in our joint efforts to guard the Eastern Front against fascism to the present day, building the China-Russia comprehensive strategic partnership of coordination for a new era," she said.
Chinese student tours Moscow, explores local culture
The Iranian government is focusing on public concerns and maintaining stable supplies of essential goods amid recent protests, Iranian President Masoud Pezeshkian said in a televised interview on Sunday.
In the city of Karaj, northwest of the capital Tehran, daily life has largely continued as normal. A video filmed by a local resident on Sunday shows food stores open and grocery shelves fully stocked.
"This is the block near my home, and there are some food stores here. Daily life continues here. Last night we did not see many protests in Karaj. Right now the city is very safe. This is a grocery store close to my home. All the food is available; nothing is in shortage. Here are noodles and different types of beans. Here are dairy products, cheese, and yogurt. I also checked other grocery stores and didn't see any shortages. Everything is available," said local resident Ali Reza.
Iranian officials have described recent disturbances as acts orchestrated by the "enemy," including some carried out by well-trained and armed "terrorists." The incidents have caused casualties among security personnel and civilians, as well as property damage.
The Secretary of Iran's Supreme National Security Council Ali Larijani has directed authorities to severely punish the "terrorists."
Meanwhile, Iran's police chief Ahmad-Reza Radan said on Sunday that the police had raised alert levels and arrested several leaders of the troublemakers during the operations on Saturday.
President Pezeshkian noted in the interview that the normal demands of the Iranian people are reasonable and justified, but they must realize that triggering riots and carrying out terrorist acts are the enemy's attempts to undermine the country. He urged the public to remain vigilant.
Also on Sunday, Iranian Parliament Speaker Mohammad Baqer Qalibaf warned that Tehran would regard U.S. and Israeli bases and facilities in the Middle East as "legitimate targets" if Washington takes military action against Iran. His remarks followed media reports saying U.S. President Donald Trump is "seriously considering authorizing a strike" against Iran.
Iranian state media reported that at least 109 members of Iran's security forces have been killed in clashes since the protests began 14 days ago. Meanwhile, human rights groups based outside the country said the number of protesters killed has exceeded 200, though the figure could not be independently verified.
The protests initially erupted over a sharp depreciation of the rial and sweeping subsidy reforms. Iranian authorities have blamed the unrest on foreign-linked agents and sanctions imposed by the United States.
Iranian president says government focusing on ensuring supplies amid protests
