St. Petersburg State University and China Soong Ching Ling Foundation signed an agreement on cooperation
On May 30, 2016 an agreement on cooperation was signed between St. Petersburg State University and China Soong Ching Ling Foundation by vice-principal of St. Petersburg State University Ilya Dementiev and vice president of the Foundation Qi Mintszyu. After the signing ceremony leading scientists and public figures of Russia and China took part in the international scientific seminar ‘Infrastructure projects as a basis for global development’.
Agreement on cooperation between St. Petersburg State University and Soong Ching Ling Foundation assumes the implementation of joint research projects, organization of events as well as academic and scientific exchanges.
‘Soong Ching Ling Foundation is actively engaged in humanitarian activities, including those that are organized on the international arena, and we are convinced that cooperation between the Foundation and the University has great prospects’, stated Ilya Dementiev. ‘I note that in SPbU scholarships for Chinese students has been introduced, a number of joint research projects with Chinese scientists were conducted. I hope that the beginning of cooperation with the Foundation will be an important step towards greater interaction of St. Petersburg University with educational and research institutions of China’.
Greeting the participants of the seminar ‘Infrastructure projects as a basis for global development’, Qi Mintszyu told about the tasks of the Foundation. Soong Ching Ling aimed at promoting prosperity throughout the world. The Foundation collaborates with leading international organizations such as the UN, UNESCO and UNICEF, implements joint programs in the field of research, expert and analytical activities with the World Public Forum "Dialogue of civilizations".
Speaking at the seminar, founder of the Forum "Dialogue of civilizations" Vladimir Yakunin said that St. Petersburg is for him "beloved city, which was created as an intersection point of political, economic and transport infrastructure". In his address Vladimir Yakunin emphasized the need to strengthen Russian-Chinese cooperation and noted the strategic importance of infrastructure project ‘The Eurasian Land Bridge’/ ‘New Silk Road’. The aim of this global strategy is the creation of an extensive infrastructure network from China to Europe.
During the seminar leading scholars and public figures of Russia and China discussed social, economic and political importance of infrastructure projects as a way to strengthen international cooperation. In the reports experts addressed various aspects of the project ‘New Silk Road’.