On February 12, 2025, Sun Chuanjiang, Deputy Consul General and Zhao Chunlu, Educational Consul of Consulate General of China in Irkutsk visited the Confucius Institute at Irkutsk State University. They visited the Cultural Experience Center at the institute and held a meeting with the faculty on cultural exchanges and cooperation between Russia and China.

Accompanied by two Chinese and Russian deans of the institute, Vice Consul General Sun Chuanjiang visited Wenzhifang, a cultural experience center jointly established by the two universities and expressed his appreciation for the display of China-Russia art works. He hoped that the Confucius Institute could make good use of its resources and continue to hold colorful cultural activities so that more Russians would know more about Chinese culture.

At the meeting, Vice Consul General Sun Chuanjiang conveyed Consul General Li Hai’s wishes to the faculty of the Confucius Institute. He noted that the Lantern Festival is an important traditional festival in China, symbolizing reunion and harmony. He also wished all the staff a smooth job and a happy family in the new year. He spoke highly of the remarkable achievements made by the institute in Chinese teaching and cultural promotion. He added that the Confucius Institute, as an important bridge for cultural exchanges between China and Russia, had made outstanding contributions to the promotion of Chinese and Chinese culture. He encouraged all to make unremitting efforts and make greater contributions to China-Russia friendly cooperation in the new era.

Vice Consul General Sun Chuanjiang stressed that as the friendly cooperation between Russia and China is increasing, the Confucius Institute should constantly innovate on the basis of the traditional teaching, actively expand the ‘Chinese+’ programs and combine Chinese teaching with vocational skills training to provide more development opportunities for local students. He added that this innovative model not only enriched the teaching content, but also injected new vitality into the pragmatic cooperation between China and Russia. He noted that the Consulate General of China in Irkutsk would as always, support the development of the Confucius Institute and provide necessary help and support for its teaching and cultural activities. He believed that with the joint efforts of both sides, the Confucius Institute would surely become a model of cultural exchanges between Russia and China.

Professor Zhang Donghui, Chinese Dean of the Confucius Institute introduced the institute and the teachers to Vice Consul General Sun Chuanjiang. On behalf of all the faculty, she expressed her heartfelt thanks to the Consulate General for its long-term support and help. She noted that the Confucius Institute would continue to make efforts to contribute to China-Russia cultural exchanges and the international promotion of Chinese language.

Balamova, Russian Dean of the Confucius Institute mentioned in her speech that the Confucius Institute and the Consulate General were both established in 2007. She added that over the years, the care and help from the Consulate General to the institute had been an important guarantee for the development of the institute. She noted that in the future, the Confucius Institute would live up to the expectations of the Consulate General to write a new chapter for China-Russia friendly cooperation.

After the meeting, Vice Consul General Sun Chuanjiang presented holiday gifts with China elements to the faculty of the Confucius Institute.