From September 17 to 19, President Liu Junguo led a delegation to Russia for an academic exchange visit aimed at advancing cooperation in education, science, and talent development. The delegation visited Saint Petersburg State University and Lomonosov Moscow State University, and also called on the Embassy of the People’s Republic of China in the Russian Federation.
At Saint Petersburg State University, President Liu Junguo and his delegation held a meeting with Andriushin Sergei, Vice Rector for International Affairs, along with relevant officials from the International Affairs Office and the Faculty of Earth Sciences. Andriushin Sergei delivered a welcome speech, introducing the university’s history, scale, talent development, and international cooperation. He emphasized that Chinese universities are among their most important partners, and in line with the consensus reached by the leaders of the two countries, the university will continue to deepen collaboration with its Chinese counterparts in the future. President Liu Junguo provided a detailed overview of NCWU’s history, distinctive features, landmark achievements, and future development plans. He noted that Saint Petersburg State University boasts a long and distinguished history, having educated numerous heads of state, Nobel laureates, and a large number of scientists and entrepreneurs. He expressed his hope that the two institutions would strengthen in-depth exchanges to jointly advance high-quality international education. Officials from the International Affairs Office and the Faculty of Earth Sciences separately expressed their anticipation of signing a strategic inter-university agreement with NCWU, aiming to foster deep collaboration in areas such as joint scientific research, faculty exchanges, and graduate student training.
During the visit, President Liu Junguo and his delegation toured the university's historical museum, geological museum, and library.
At Lomonosov Moscow State University, the delegation met with Igor P. Bochkov, Director of International Development. Mr. Bochkov extended a warm welcome to the delegation and introduced the university's historical evolution, educational characteristics, academic programs, and international development. He expressed a strong desire to expand academic exchanges and talent cultivation with NCWU in relevant disciplines such as Environmental Science and Engineering, Civil Engineering, and Earth Science and Engineering.
In Moscow, President Liu Junguo and his delegation called on the Embassy of the People's Republic of China in the Russian Federation. Zhou Yu, Minister-Counselor, and Zhang Wei, Counsellor, among others, attended the meeting. President Liu expressed gratitude to the embassy for its care and support towards NCWU. He introduced NCWU's educational characteristics, talent cultivation, international cooperation, and achievements in serving major national strategies. He emphasized that NCWU will continue to deepen collaborative efforts with Russia in education, science, and technology, as well as expand in-depth cooperation with top-tier Russian universities in disciplines of strength and elite talent development. Minister-Counselor Zhou Yu spoke highly of NCWU's extensive collaboration with Russian universities under the BRICS Network University framework. He noted that the current period presents a crucial opportunity for higher education and technological cooperation between China and Russia. He expressed the hope that NCWU will leverage its strengths in water conservancy engineering to serve the broader diplomatic objectives, making new contributions to deepening cooperation between China, Russia, and the Shanghai Cooperation Organization (SCO) member states in the fields of water resources and environmental protection. Xia Zunji from the Science and Technology Department and Zhao Dan from the Education Department accompanied the delegation.
During the visit, NCWU held a global recruitment symposium for overseas talents. President Liu Junguo and his delegation also met with representatives of Chinese students studying in Russia and NCWU alumni.
Accompanying the delegation were relevant officials from the Science and Technology Department, the Yellow River Research Institute, and the International Office.
Introduction to Saint Petersburg State University
Saint Petersburg State University (SPbSU) is one of the world's renowned institutions, ranking second in Russia alongside Lomonosov Moscow State University. Directly under the administration of the President of the Russian Federation, it enjoys autonomous governance, with its chancellor appointed by the president. Founded in 1724 during the reign of Peter the Great, the university holds profound cultural and historical significance. Its notable alumni include eight political leaders such as Lenin, Putin, and Medvedev. As a pivotal research and educational center in Russia, SPbSU has produced world-class scientists like Dmitri Mendeleev (discoverer of the periodic table) and Ivan Pavlov, as well as nine Nobel laureates in fields including Physiology/Medicine, Chemistry, Physics, Economics, and Literature, alongside winners of the Fields Medal and Shaw Prize. The university comprises 19 faculties, covering disciplines such as Artificial Intelligence, Earth Sciences, and Law. Its teaching and research system upholds the institution's founding traditions, with academic findings directly integrated into classroom instruction.
SPbSU has established collaborative programs with Chinese universities including Tsinghua University, Harbin Institute of Technology, and Northwestern Polytechnical University. On June 6, 2019, the university awarded President Xi Jinping an honorary doctoral degree.
Introduction to Lomonosov Moscow State University
Lomonosov Moscow State University (MSU), commonly referred to as Moscow State University, was established in 1755 by decree of Russian Empress Catherine II. It is named after its founder—the renowned Russian mathematician, physicist, linguist, and philosopher, Mikhail Lomonosov. As Russia's top-ranked institution, a leading European university, and a globally recognized center for education, science, and culture, MSU ranks 94th in the 2025 QS World University Rankings. With over 250 years of history, the university has produced eight Nobel laureates.
The university comprises 23 faculties, 15 teaching and academic centers, 11 research institutes, and 5 overseas branches. It boasts a faculty of 4,300 educators and 4,800 researchers, with a student population exceeding 40,000, including more than 2,500 international students from over 100 countries worldwide. MSU is celebrated for its outstanding faculty, state-of-the-art facilities, high-quality teaching, and rigorous academic standards. Many Russian government officials and experts in high-tech fields are graduates of the university, particularly excelling in disciplines such as mathematics, physics, biology, geology, chemistry, and other scientific fields, achieving globally acclaimed accomplishments.