In the course of realizing the commitments between Acting Rector of Kalashnikov ISTU Aleksandr Gubert and Consul General of China in Kazan Syan Bo agreed upon during his visit to the Udmurt Republic in January, the delegation of our university visited Consulate General of China in Kazan.

Director of the Institute of International Study Programs Alexey Ryabchikov and Director of the Center of International Academic Cooperation Tatyana Savchenko took part in the meeting from the Russian side, and Consul General Syan Bo, Second Secretary Liu Syuezyao and Consul-Attaché Chen Bozhui — from the Chinese side.

The meeting was aimed at clarifying the main areas of cooperation and defining certain steps for their implementation. At the beginning of the meeting Syan Bo stated that he was happy to have the delegation of the university named after Mikhail Kalashnikov, the well-known person all over the globe, and China, in this sense, is not an exception. Besides, he pointed out that Kalashnikov ISTU is essentially the personification of the Udmurt Republic — the region with rich engineering traditions having produced not only the advanced types of armaments but also the products of mechanical engineering, metal and wood processing, radioelectronics and other hi-tech products for many years.

In turn, Alexey Ryabchikov indicated that the cooperation between Kalashnikov ISTU and Chinese educational and research organizations is the priority in international collaboration of the university. Only during the previous year our university signed 9 cooperation agreements with Chinese universities, the Centers of Chinese and Russian Languages were opened at Kalashnikov ISTU and Qilu Normal University (Shandong Province), the Wushu Festival was organized.

The parties discussed the activities of the Center of Chinese Language and Culture at Kalashnikov ISTU, its opportunities for developing and strengthening cultural, scientific and educational, sportive and business relations between the Udmurt Republic and provinces of China. Syan Bo demonstrated his willingness to assist in equipping the Center and supporting the work of Chinese teachers there. The parties further discussed the required steps to support the efforts of our university to implement the projects with Chinese universities — submission of applications to double degree study programs and foundation of joint institute. Another important area of cooperation is the opening of Confucius Institute at Kalashnikov ISTU. The parties agreed that the Chinese side will formulate its proposals on this matter and send them to our university for consideration.

In the end of the meeting Syan Bo and Alexey Ryabchikov once again expressed their readiness to make efforts for developing the cooperation between Kalashnikov ISTU and Chinese scientific and educational organizations at different levels — Consulate General of China in Kazan, Embassy of China in Moscow, Government of China and its provinces, and universities.