Mutual perception of friendship a robust foundation for people-to-people exchanges

The people-to-people connections between China and Russia have continuously strengthened, as a new survey reveals that more than 80 percent of young people in both countries regard their bilateral relationship as friendly.

Released on Friday in Beijing, the survey was conducted from late April to early May by the Global Opinion Research Center at Renmin University of China, in collaboration with a Russian partner organization. It involved an online survey of participants aged 18 to 35 from both nations.

The findings show that 87.5 percent of Russian youth and 85.5 percent of Chinese youth consider China-Russia relations to be friendly. Additionally, 78 percent of Russian respondents and 76.4 percent of their Chinese counterparts hold a positive impression of the other country.

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When asked about the prospects for China-Russia cooperation, 77.7 percent of Russian youth and 73.7 percent of Chinese youth said they are optimistic. This mutual perception of friendship and collaboration forms a robust foundation for people-to-people exchanges.

"Young people are a vital force in fostering generations of friendship between China and Russia," Zhou Yong, director of the Global Opinion Research Center at Renmin University of China and dean of its School of Journalism and Communication, told Xinhua News Agency.

Zhou emphasized the importance of prioritizing educational collaboration, student exchanges, cultural activities and digital interactions. He said these initiatives can help foster understanding, build friendships and open avenues for cooperative development among the youth.

This year marks the 30th anniversary of the China-Russia strategic partnership of coordination and the 25th anniversary of the China-Russia Treaty of Good-Neighborliness and Friendly Cooperation. Following the conclusion of the China-Russia Years of Culture (2024-25), the Years of Education (2026-27) have commenced, extending the shared legacy of meaningful exchanges between the two countries.

Currently, there are more than 60,000 Chinese students studying in Russia and over 20,000 Russian students in China, according to Xinhua. Shenzhen MSU-BIT University, a nonprofit collaboration among the Shenzhen government, Lomonosov Moscow State University and Beijing Institute of Technology, has cultivated students who are proficient in both languages and cultures, while possessing a global perspective.

The Sino-Russian alliances of similar universities, referring to discipline-specific bilateral alliances that connect universities with similar academic focuses, have become the world's largest bilateral higher education network. The Luban Workshop in Moscow — jointly built by Chinese and Russian universities — began operations in 2025. It was the first of its kind to integrate 5G technology into its curriculum. The Luban Workshop is an initiative by China to promote vocational education on an international scale.

Cultural exchanges among young people have also flourished. Over the past two years, the All-Russian Children's Center "Ocean" has hosted more than 100 primary and secondary school students from China. Activities such as concerts, sailing lessons and game festivals have provided opportunities for young participants to forge friendships and deepen mutual understanding.

In April, a China-Russia youth culture and art festival was held at Tianjin Foreign Studies University. During the event, Chinese students shared the folk tale The Cowherd and the Weaver Girl in Russian, while their Russian counterparts told the parable The Blind Men and the Elephant in Chinese. Both groups also performed traditional dances and songs together.

"The most unforgettable part was learning songs in each other's languages — it was a truly magical experience," a 19-year-old Russian participant was quoted as saying by Xinhua.

Over the years, China and Russia have hosted various themed "national years", focusing on areas such as tourism, youth exchange, media collaboration, local cooperation, technology, sports and culture.

Tourism has experienced notable growth following the introduction of the mutual visa exemption policy in 2025. Dmitry Gorin, vice-president of the Russian Union of Travel Industry, told Russia's Izvestia newspaper that Russian citizens set a new record by visiting China's Hainan Island more than 505,000 times in 2025 — 120 percent more than the previous year. Since Jan 1, Heihe, a Chinese city on the China-Russia border, has recorded 350,000 Russian border crossings, representing an 80 percent year-on-year increase.

During China's Spring Festival in February, Beijing hosted a Maslenitsa celebration, introducing Russian traditions of saying goodbye to winter and welcoming spring.

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Joint creative works have also acted as bridges of friendship. The China-Russia co-produced film Red Silk achieved box office success in Russia, while the co-produced opera Eugene Onegin received acclaim in China.

Boris Titov, chairman of the Russian side of the China-Russia Committee for Friendship, Peace and Development, noted that the richer the cultural exchanges, the deeper the friendship among the people.

This perspective was echoed by Igor Morgulov, Russia's ambassador to China. He said Russia is ready to leverage the opportunities presented by various themed years to boost people-to-people exchanges, fostering a deeper understanding and friendship between the two countries.