On September 13 the delegation from People’s Republic of China visited Kalashnikov Izhevsk State Technical University: Jianqiang Zhuo, Head of International Office of Jinan Zhishang Education Group, Weiwei Zhang, a leading translator of Jinan Zhishang Education Group, as well as eight young men and one girl who are now the students of our university.  Four of them will study the Russian language, and the rest are enrolled to the bachelor program “Advertising and Public Relations”.   

On the arrival day our Chinese colleagues took a rest in the hostel after the long journey and on September 14 the Rector’s reception was arranged in the conference-room.   

Welcoming the guests, Acting Rector of Kalashnikov Tech Aleksandr Gubert pointed out, “… our university has been collaborating with Zhishang Education Group for quite a while, and today we are meeting the first students who have come to us to study on the bachelor program and to learn Russian – we finally have you here in Izhevsk!” He also told the Chinese students to freely practice Russian and hoped that Izhevsk colleagues would start learning Chinese.     

Director of Institute of International Study Programs Alexey Ryabchikov added, “We are happy to see all of you at our university! And during two years the really hard joint work has been done with our colleagues in Zhishang Education Group. We are always glad to receive foreign guests and students at Kalashnikov Tech, but we are especially happy to have colleagues from China. In recent years, China has proved to be a reliable partner of the Russian Federation who totally shares our view of our cooperation perspectives, including the sphere of education, academic and research projects, cultural exchanges”.

Alexey Ryabchikov introduced all the participants of the meeting, people with whom the new ISTU students would daily communicate: Vice-Rector for Studies Olga Varfolomeeva, Director of Center of Chinese Language and Culture Evgenia Lazaricheva, Director of Center of International Academic Cooperation Tatiana Savchenko, Head of Department of Russian Language as Foreign Irina Nekipelova, Head of Department of Management Olga Perminova, Head of Department of Engineering Graphics, Professional Pedagogics and Advertising Technology Olga Zhuikova, as well as the buddies of Chinese students.

Irina Nekipelova addressed the students, “Our dear new students, I wish you a lot of success in your studies! Chinese ancient culture is extraordinary rich, the Chinese language is one of the most complicated in the world, and Russian culture, perhaps, is not that old but also extremely amazing. And I am sure that it will be interesting for you and Russian language will be clear”.

In response, Jianqiang Zhuo indicated, “Government of PRC pays much attention to Russian-Chinese cooperation and is interested in its development and extension”. He also reminded about the extensive work carried out together with Izhevsk colleagues, which didn’t stop even during COVID-19 pandemic, to have the result – arrival of Chinese students.

Jianqiang Zhuo also added, “… we already had a tour of the university, students got accommodated in the comfortable hostel, met buddies and we feel how sincere and kind you are…! We believe that more and more students will come to study in Russia, in Izhevsk, at Kalashnikov Tech…”

The reception atmosphere was really warm and friendly, the participants were smiling and joking. “There is no way back!” said Aleksandr Gubert addressing the foreign students, “until you get the diplomas of Kalashnikov Tech”.  

We hope for the same optimistic stance in further collaboration and wish great success to our new students!