To strengthen international exchanges and cooperation between the Northeast Asian Studies College of Jilin University and Russian universities, and to promote language learning and cultural exchange between Chinese and Russian university students, a 15-day summer camp jointly organized by the Northeast Asian Studies College of Jilin University and the Department of International Economics of the Financial University under the Government of the Russian Federation was held from July 8 to July 22, 2023. Ten Russian university students came to China and participated in the program together with five students from Jilin University.

On July 11, the opening ceremony of the Summer Camp of the Financial University under the Government of the Russian Federation and Jilin University was solemnly held in the conference room of the Northeast Asian Studies College. Wang Yanjun, Vice Dean of the Northeast Asian Studies College of Jilin University, and Marina, Deputy Director of the Department of International Economics of the Financial University under the Government of the Russian Federation, delivered remarks on behalf of both sides respectively. Relevant leaders from Northeast Center for International Chinese Language Education, Hanban and College of International Education of Jilin University attended the ceremony.

The summer camp was divided into two phases in Beijing and Changchun. During the first phase (July 8–10), the “Impressions of China” program was held in Beijing. Accompanied by Chinese faculty, the teachers and students from the Financial University under the Government of the Russian Federation visited the Summer Palace, the Badaling Great Wall, and the Temple of Heaven, and toured the National Sports Center (Bird’s Nest) and the National Aquatics Center (Water Cube), experiencing both China’s historical culture and contemporary development.During the second phase (July 10–21), the “Experiencing Changchun and Exploring Jilin University” program was held in Changchun. During this period, Chinese and Russian participants jointly engaged in two categories of activities. First, Chinese language improvement courses and thematic lectures. Through targeted Chinese language instruction and the “Understanding China” lecture series, Russian participants strengthened their Chinese language learning and gained a deeper understanding of China. Second, language practice and social engagement activities. Participants formed mutual support groups, went beyond the university campus into public spaces in Changchun, and carried out various cultural exchange and experiential activities. On July 21, all scheduled activities of the summer camp were successfully completed.

The Financial University under the Government of the Russian Federation is one of the top-ranked universities in Russia in the field of finance and economics. In 2022, the Northeast Asian Studies College of Jilin University signed an exchange agreement with its Department of International Economics. This summer camp marked the first student exchange activity under the agreement. The successful implementation of the program strengthened inter-university and inter-departmental ties, enhanced mutual understanding of each other’s countries, societies, and cultures among young Chinese and Russian students, and laid a solid foundation for further substantive cooperation.

The Northeast Base for International Chinese Language Education and the School of International Education of Jilin University provided strong support for the summer camp.