Russian President Vladimir Putin has said that cultural exchanges, the “strategic dimension” of the relationship between Russia and China, continue to develop dynamically.

In a written interview on the eve of his visit to China to attend the Shanghai Cooperation Organisation (SCO) Tianjin Summit and China’s V-Day commemorations in Beijing, Putin noted that large-scale bilateral cultural and people-to-people initiatives make a significant contribution to fostering friendly relations.

The Roadmap for Russia-China Cooperation on People-to-People and Cultural Exchanges Before 2030, which includes more than 100 major projects, is being consistently implemented, Putin said.

Highlighting the successful organisation of the Russia-China Years of Culture, held in 2024-2025, Putin said that the rich and diverse programme was met with enthusiastic acclaim in both Russia and China.

Education and science remain especially promising areas for cooperation, Putin said, noting that academic mobility and inter-university contacts continue to grow. Today, more than 51,000 Chinese students are studying in Russia, while 21,000 Russian students are studying in China, he said.

Cooperation in science, technology and innovation is also expanding, he said, adding that sports cooperation has also been productive while film production is another vibrant area of cooperation.

“Tourism is another important sphere I would like to note. The figures here are encouraging: in 2024, mutual tourist flows had increased by 1.5 times, reaching 2.8 million trips,” he said, adding that the two sides have also advanced cooperation in such areas as youth, media, and archives.

It is encouraging that bilateral cultural and people-to-people cooperation continues to gain momentum, Putin said. “This is undoubtedly a strategic dimension of our relationship, helping to build a broad public base of friendship, good-neighborliness, and mutual understanding.”