Sino-Russian Youth Gather in the Mountain City, Cultural Exchange Fosters Friendship

On September 29, 2025, the Foreign Affairs Office of the Chongqing Municipal People's Government sent a letter of appreciation to Chongqing Normal University, commending the university's faculty members and students for their professional dedication and active contribution during the 10th Sino-Russian "Yangtze-Volga" Youth Forum.

From August 20 to 26, 2025, the 10th Sino-Russian "Yangtze-Volga" Youth Forum was held in Chongqing, bringing together over 300 university students from the two countries to the Mountain City to share friendship and envision the future. As a key participating institution, Chongqing Normal University actively assisted the Chongqing Foreign Affairs Office in the forum's organization, service provision, and cultural exchange activities.

At the opening ceremony, Mr. Mashkovtsev, the Plenipotentiary Representative of the President of the Russian Federation in the Volga Federal District, Mr. Sun Linjiang, China's Special Representative for Eurasian Affairs, and Li Mingqing, Deputy Secretary of the CPC Chongqing Municipal Committee, delivered addresses respectively, placing high expectations on youth exchange and hoping that the young people of both countries would deepen mutual understanding and friendship and contribute their youthful energy to the future development of Sino-Russian relations.

In his remarks, Deputy Secretary Li Mingqing specifically mentioned that the Chongqing Tchaikovsky Conservatory of Music, built jointly by Chongqing Normal University and the Moscow State Tchaikovsky Conservatory, is a vivid practice of China-Russia educational cooperation. Zhang Zhenyu, Secretary of the University Youth League Committee, later also introduced the approval status and development vision of this cooperative institution at the subsequent "China-Russia Youth Education and Development Roundtable."

Led by Professor Wu Jingyu and Ms. Tang Yue of the School of Foreign Languages, faculty members and students of Chongqing Normal University took an active part in multiple agenda items, handling airport pickup, guidance, and delegation accompanying duties, demonstrating sound humanistic and professional competence.

During the forum, Professor Wu Jingyu, Vice Dean of the School of Music, gave a detailed introduction to the Chongqing Tchaikovsky Conservatory of Music and its preparatory program to Mr. Mashkovtsev, the Plenipotentiary Representative of the President of the Russian Federation in the Volga Federal District, and to delegates from 14 Russian regions and 6 Chinese provinces.

Cultural exchange was the highlight of the forum. At the "Russia Day" event, Vice Dean Wu Jingyu joined a young Russian friend playing the flute in an impromptu duet of classics such as "Moscow Nights," creating a memorable moment through music.

This cross-cultural musical collaboration further demonstrated the significant value and potential of the Chongqing Tchaikovsky Conservatory in advancing Sino-Russian artistic exchange and building a cultural bridge between the young people of the two countries. At the traditional cultural experience session of "China Day," students joined their Russian counterparts in calligraphy, embroidery, tea art, and other activities. Students from various schools presented thoughtful gifts with distinctive Chinese characteristics—such as beaded bracelets and sachets—using gifts to convey friendship. Liu Jianxin, a student from the School of Geography and Tourism, served as the Chinese host for the session, ensuring its smooth progress.

In addition, the faculty members and students accompanied the youth representatives of both countries to visit the Hongyan Revolution Memorial Museum, the Three Gorges Migration Memorial Museum, and local enterprises in Wanzhou, and took part in folk activities such as the "smash-the-bowl liquor" ceremony at the Tianshengcheng Cultural and Tourism District, broadening horizons and deepening understanding through a diverse itinerary.

Visiting the Three Gorges Migration Memorial Museum

Visiting an enterprise in Wanzhou

Experiencing Bayu culture at the Tianshengcheng Cultural and Tourism District

Through this forum, the faculty and students of Chongqing Normal University not only fulfilled their service and exchange duties with solid work, but also demonstrated with concrete actions the university's active role in international exchange. In the future, the university will continue to support young people in devoting themselves to China-foreign friendship and contributing more strength to the mutual learning of civilizations.

Written by: Ge Lishuo

Photography: Qin Qianzhen

Layout & Design: Dong Yatong

First Review: Tang Yue

Second Review: Xu Xiaojing

Third Review: Wu Jingyu