Guests pose for a group photo at the China-Russia sports university alliance forum. Photo: Courtesy of the Russian Cultural Center in Beijing

Titled as the sports exchange activity between China and Russia in 2023, the first China-Russia sports university alliance forum was unveiled in Beijing on December 7. 

The forum focused on new collaboration especially in the field of sports and cultural exchanges, sports research, and sports and tourism between the two countries' universities.

Several guests, including Tatiana Urzhumtseva, director of the Russian Cultural Center in Beijing and Zhang Xia, president of the Capital University of Physical Education and Sports (CUPES) and the first Chinese rotating chairman of the alliance delivered speeches. 

Both countries are focused on sports development, and have had multiple collaborations in the field of sports, Urzhumtseva said. She emphasized the strong and solid relationship between China and Russia, and exchanges and cooperation between the universities of the two countries have become increasingly close, which promotes the cultivation of talent and enhances the friendship between the two peoples of the two countries.

Zhang underscored the importance of mutual cooperation between the two countries, especially in the sports field. The alliance will provide a platform to enhance exchanges, cooperation, and resource sharing between the two countries' sports academies, she said at the ceremony. 

The China-Russia sports university alliance was established in December 2022 and is a platform to further promote cooperation between the two countries in the fields of cultural exchanges, scientific research, competitive sports, and the development of young people's physical fitness and health.

The event also launched the logo of the China-Russia sports university alliance. As the first forum of the alliance, the event was co-organized by the China-Russia sports university alliance, CUPES and the China-Foreign Humanities Exchange Center of the Chinese Ministry of Education.