Music students in China will soon be able to receive world-class education without leaving the country, as the Moscow State Tchaikovsky Conservatory has partnered with Chongqing to establish a joint program.

Last week, Chongqing Normal University inaugurated its new Tchaikovsky Conservatory, highlighting the expanding educational and cultural cooperation between China and Russia.

The Chongqing Tchaikovsky Conservatory of Chongqing Normal University is located on the university's campus in the Shapingba district.

According to the Russian institution, the initiative marks the first time in its 160-year history that it has fully integrated its training system, curriculum and faculty resources into a program abroad, giving Chinese students access to top-tier music education.

The conservatory is set to enroll its first undergraduate class this fall, admitting about 100 students from 19 provincial-level regions, including Sichuan, Chongqing and Guangdong. It will offer programs in music performance and musicology, as well as master's programs in music and arts.

Graduates will receive a degree from Chongqing Normal University along with course completion certificates from the Moscow State Tchaikovsky Conservatory, and will have opportunities to pursue advanced diplomas in Russia.

Zhang Yan, Party secretary of Chongqing Normal University and dean of the conservatory, said the establishment represents a pivotal moment in China-Russia educational cooperation.

"It is a key platform for meeting the growing demand for high-quality international music education and addresses the shortage of professional music education resources in Chongqing and western China," she said.

Zhang added that the institution will help promote people-to-people exchanges, foster mutual understanding and support Chongqing's broader educational development.

Alexander Sokolov, rector of the Moscow State Tchaikovsky Conservatory, said the project has received strong support from Chongqing and demonstrates the potential to carry forward the long-standing cooperation in music education between China and Russia despite challenges.

During the unveiling ceremony, Margarita Karatygina, vice-rector of the conservatory, read a congratulatory letter from Russia's minister of culture, underscoring the significance of the initiative.

The inauguration was part of Chongqing's events marking the China-Russia Years of Education.

Chongqing has expanded its educational collaboration with Russia in recent years. It now hosts three joint institutions and four cooperative programs, enrolling more than 1,000 students annually.

The other two joint institutions are the joint institute of Far Eastern Federal University and Chongqing University of Posts and Telecommunications, established in 2025, and the international school of Intelligent Manufacturing of Chongqing Vocational Institute of Engineering, created in partnership with Moscow State University of Technology.

The city also supports two-way exchanges, attracting about 400 Russian students annually while sending about 200 local students and faculty members to Russia.

This year marks the 30th anniversary of the China-Russia strategic partnership of coordination and the 25th anniversary of the Treaty of Good-Neighborliness and Friendly Cooperation between the two countries.

Earlier this year, the two countries' presidents announced that 2026-2027 will be designated as the "China-Russia Year of Education", providing a framework for deeper practical cooperation in education and other fields.

Zhou Peng?contributed to this story.

Contact the writers at dengrui@chinadaily.com.cn