Valery Falkov, Minister of Science and Higher Education of the Russian Federation, led a delegation to visit Sun Yat-sen University (SYSU) on April 16. The visit, hosted by SYSU President Song Gao, focused on aligning research priorities and enhancing talent exchange between the university and Russian academic institutions.
The delegation included Konstantin Mogilevsky, Deputy Minister of Science and Higher Education, along with heads of prominent Russian universities and industrial leaders. SYSU Vice President Jike Liu also attended the meeting.
This visit takes place during a landmark year for bilateral relations, marking the 30th anniversary of the China-Russia strategic partnership and the 25th anniversary of the China-Russia Treaty of Good-Neighborliness and Friendly Cooperation. Against the backdrop of the newly launched China-Russia Education Year, both parties identified this period as a strategic window to broaden the scope of educational and technological synergy.
During the meeting, President Song Gao emphasized SYSU's enduring commitment to global openness. He detailed the university's multi-campus development and its comprehensive disciplinary layout, highlighting the robust cooperation already flourishing between SYSU and various Russian research institutions. President Song Gao noted that the university views this visit as a catalyst to further deepen joint talent cultivation, collaborative scientific innovation, and the shared utilization of high-end research platforms.
The delegation's itinerary included a deep dive into SYSU's scientific prowess. Representatives from the university's leading research platforms, including the TianQin Center for gravitational wave detection, the State Key Laboratory of Optoelectronic Materials and Technologies, and the National Supercomputing Center in Guangzhou, shared insights into their latest breakthroughs. These briefings underscored SYSU's strengths in space science, photonics, and high-performance computing—fields that are increasingly central to global scientific progress.
Minister Falkov expressed high regard for SYSU's academic stature and its success in international engagement. He affirmed that the Russian government prioritizes educational and scientific ties with China, citing SYSU as a pivotal partner in this endeavor. Leveraging the China-Russia Education Year as a springboard, the Minister proposed enhancing cooperation in complementary fields such as climate change, marine science, applied mathematics, and artificial intelligence. He advocated for the establishment of joint research hubs and increased faculty-student mobility to collectively bolster the innovation capacity of both nations.
Group Photo
The visit has further solidified the foundation for long-term collaboration between SYSU and the Russian scientific community. By aligning with the broader objectives of the China-Russia Education Year, SYSU continues to champion a spirit of mutual benefit and openness, contributing sustained energy to the comprehensive strategic partnership between the two nations in this new era.
Photographer: Zhang Langrui
