Experience and Prospects of Cooperation between Beijing Institute of Technology and Russia in Higher Education

Abstract

The history of the Beijing Institute of Technology (University) began in 1940 in the city of Yan’an. In 2019, two 70th anniversaries were celebrated — the establishment of the Russian- Chinese diplomatic relations and the beginning of cooperation between the Beijing Institute of Technology and Russian universities (1949–2019). 2020 became the year of the eightieth anniversary of the founding of the institute (1940–2020). In connection with this special and significant date, the generalization and outline of the history of development and experience of the Institute seems to be especially important. The history of the Russian-Chinese cooperation in higher education has been illuminated by the bright stars: the best people of the modern period and the heroes of the revolution graduated from the University of Workers of the East named after I. V. Stalin and the Sun Yat-sen University of Chinese Workers in Moscow. During the glorious but difficult early years of the People’s Republic of China, the Soviet government sent many of its educational specialists to China. Today, with the development of Russian-Chinese relations, this bilateral cooperation will only become more successful and closer. This article provides an overview of the three most important stages of cooperation between the Beijing Institute of Technology and Russian universities, on the basis of which the significant experience of the institute in this field is summarized, as well as the direction and possibility for their future cooperation in the light of “The Belt and Road” initiative, a comprehensive partnership and strategic interaction between Russia and China in the new era and the “double top level” program.