Russian President Vladimir Putin will arrive in Beijing on Tuesday night for a two-day state visit to China at the invitation of Chinese President Xi Jinping.
This marks President Putin's 25th visit to China, with the two presidents set to exchange views on bilateral relations, cooperation in various fields, and discuss international and regional issues of mutual interest, a spokesman for the Chinese Ministry of Foreign Affairs said on Monday.
Putin to arrive in Beijing for state visit to China
The unveiling ceremony for the Sino-Russian Consortium for Innovation in Forestry Education, Science and Industry took place in Harbin, capital of northeast China's Heilongjiang Province on Monday, prior to Russian President Vladimir Putin's state visit to China on May 19-20.
Jointly initiated by Northeast Forestry University and Saint Petersburg State Forest Technical University, the consortium includes 48 universities, research institutes and enterprises from both countries.
It focuses on talent cultivation, joint research and cultural and industrial exchanges, promoting faculty and student exchanges, course sharing and joint labs to advance sustainable forestry development.
Representatives from the founding universities and an enterprise partner elaborated on the significance of the consortium and its expected impact.
Song Wenlong, president of Northeast Forestry University, highlighted the transformative nature of the partnership.
"The consortium marks a shift from loose exchanges to institutionalized, normalized and substantive cooperation. It has greatly enhanced the international cultivation of forestry talents and the original innovation capacity in scientific research, contributing Chinese and Russian wisdom and strength to deepening China-Russia good-neighborly friendship, empowering regional green development, and building a global ecological security barrier," said Song.
Irina Melnychuk, president of Saint Petersburg State Forest Technical University, spoke about the long-standing friendship and the new synergy the consortium aims to create.
"Our two universities have a long history of friendship. However, to enhance the effectiveness of our cooperation, we decided to establish this consortium. We hope it will generate this kind of synergy. For all those involved in this consortium, there is an opportunity to achieve such significant new results," said Melnychuk.
Alexander Resin, a representative of a Russian enterprise, emphasized the talent exchange and practical immersion opportunities the consortium will provide.
"Today, both China and Russia need highly professional and well-educated talents. Of course, this also provides opportunities for Chinese students to intern at Russian enterprises and for Russian students to intern at Chinese enterprises. This is a very beneficial exchange of ideas, plans, goals and tasks, as well as an opportunity to immerse oneself in real production processes," said Resin.
By 2025, China and Russia had established over 150 cooperative education institutions and programs.
Fifteen university alliances of similar types have brought together more than 800 universities from the two countries to carry out joint scientific research and collaborative innovation.
Sino-Russian forestry education consortium launched in northeast China for green growth
