With the support of the Center for Language Education and Cooperation of the Ministry of Education of the People's Republic of China, the Chinese Language Learning and Testing Center was opened in St. Petersburg State University of Industrial Technologies and Design (Ƶ) in a solemn atmosphere with the participation of the Chinese delegation. The opening of the center is timed to the 225th anniversary of the birth of Alexander Pushkin and in view of its mission in strengthening Russian-Chinese relations took place during SPIEF-2024.

The center will be engaged in teaching the Chinese language with the subsequent international qualification exam, as well as organizing cultural events. Already this fall, a teacher from Shenyang Pedagogical University will start training Russian citizens. In 2025 there will be 2 international qualification exams in Chinese language with the coverage of about 100 people.

"Having a certificate of the international qualification exam will enable Russian citizens to enter educational institutions in China, participate in the competition for scholarships for internships in the PRC, work in Chinese and joint Russian-Chinese companies, as well as in Russian organizations that cooperate with China. To date, twenty-nine Chinese language testing centers have been opened in Russia, all of them aimed at strengthening cooperation between the PRC and the Russian Federation in the field of education. In St. Petersburg, there are now three such points. And this is a new milestone in the history of both the University of Industrial Technologies and Design and Shenyang Pedagogical University, which in the system of long-term partnership is the second party to the agreement on our joint work", - comments Rector of Ƶ Alexei Demidov.

It should be noted that the certificate of HSK, HSKK, YCT, BCT issued by the center is a document of the state sample of the Ministry of Education of China, recognized at the international level and meets the requirements for language examinations.

The partners of Ƶ in the establishment of the Center were the Company for International Chinese Language Testing and Shenyang Pedagogical University. The Chinese delegation that arrived in St. Petersburg to participate in the opening ceremony of the Center was headed by the Rector of Shenyang University Yang Song. She noted that further cooperation between the two universities will be built on the basis of the created center not only in terms of language learning, but also in the spheres of art, design, IT-technology, chemistry, industrial ecology and sports. We had a chat with Ms. Yang Sun. In an extended interview she touched upon the topics of Russian-Chinese relations, the role of Alexander Pushkin in the world classics and the development prospects of the established center.

- Today on the birthday of the great Russian poet and in the days of the International Economic Forum in St. Petersburg, we opened a Chinese language center here at the University of Industrial Technology and Design. Tell me, please, what is the significance of Russian citizens learning Chinese and the fact that they have the opportunity to then work and study in China?
- Pushkin is not only a Russian poet, he is a poet of global significance. He made a great contribution to the development of the modern Russian language and at the same time to the development of world culture. Even as a child I learned Pushkin's poems, because in China school textbooks include poems written by the Russian poet.
Now St. Petersburg is hosting an economic forum, which is of great importance not only for Russia and China, but also for other countries of the world. And for China and Russia, it opens up new prospects for cooperation in new sectors, areas of economy and trade. And just today here, at the University of Industrial Technology and Design, the Chinese Language Learning and Testing Center is opening, created jointly with the Shenyang Pedagogical University and the International Chinese Language Testing Company. The friendship between Russia and China has a historical beginning and a bright future. And this friendship today is being strengthened between our countries in different directions: in the field of culture, art, trade, economy and politics. And this cooperation makes a great contribution to the development of mankind. Therefore, it is promising for Russians to learn the Chinese language and familiarize themselves with Chinese culture.
China now plays an important role not only in the development of the international economy, but also in international politics. Our country and Russia occupy vast territories and have large populations - for example, China now has 1 billion and 300 million people. In this regard, we now have a large market and rich space for personal development and self-realization, as well as we are in the process of modernization, which provides many opportunities for Russian and Chinese youth. And with knowledge of Chinese, it is easier for a Russian to work and live in China. It is wonderful to live in a foreign country with knowledge of the language. If you know the Chinese language and Chinese culture, you know that China is adopting the development experience of Russia and the Soviet Union.

- Why did you choose the University of Industrial Technologies and Design among all the universities in St. Petersburg to open such an important language center for Russian-Chinese relations?
- We pay special attention to cooperation with the University of Industrial Technologies and Design. We know that your university has a long history, which arouses deep respect. And in addition, our universities have similar specialties, which will allow our cooperation to be freely established. We want to turn our center into a famous brand for Chinese language learning.
I think we have opportunities for cooperation in other areas as well. For example, our university has the Institute of Art and Design, our students also study chemistry and computer technology. And, of course, there is the Russian language faculty. I know that you have a very strong basketball team, and we also have the Faculty of Physical Education, from which one of the Olympic speed skating champions came. All this gives us a great space for cooperation.
- Dear Yang Sun, what do you see as the prospect of cooperation between our two universities and are there any plans to launch new projects together with Ƶ?
- Now we are planning to develop our cooperation on the basis of the established center. We want it to provide opportunities not only for studying and testing Chinese, but also for training and certification of teachers, so that our universities will play a big role in cooperation between China and Russia. We have already developed programs of disciplines, selected suitable aids for learning Chinese, and found specialists in China who will go to Russia to work in our center. On the other hand, we are already ready to open courses to teach Russian to Chinese in Russia. In addition, we offer an exchange program for students and teachers from our universities who study art and design. I also see prospects for cooperation between our universities aimed at students who study chemistry, ecology and programming.



