The deepening educational ties between China and Russia were underscored in a celebration of the China-Russia Year of Education last month — in the form of a weeklong study tour for 30 students and teachers from Moscow State University of Technology "STANKIN" in Chongqing municipality.

Organized by the Chongqing Vocational Institute of Engineering and STANKIN, a scientific industrial complex in Russia, the tour included skills training, Chinese language instruction, cultural experiences and visits.

A highlight of the event was a friendly China-Russia robotics competition at the institute's China-Russia International School of Intelligent Manufacturing in Chongqing's Jiangjin district on April 7. The competition featured lectures, hands-on practice sessions and visits. It provided participants with insights into the development of intelligent manufacturing and the collaborative efforts in industrial robotics being made by academia and industry in Chongqing.

On the same day, the vocational institute announced plans to enhance research cooperation with STANKIN, focusing on intelligent manufacturing and software. Zhang Zhigang, the president of CVIE, outlined the initiative and announced plans to send teachers to Russia annually for exchanges, form mixed research teams with STANKIN and engage in project development and transformations.

The institute also aims to collaborate with leading Chinese and Russian manufacturing enterprises to establish training bases and develop tailored high-skill talent programs designed to ensure precise alignment of talent and industry demand.

"I have been eagerly anticipating this trip to China, and today's school tour provided valuable insights for my major," said Evgenii Tarasov, 20, a sophomore at STANKIN. "In the coming days, I hope to visit local factories to see their operations firsthand and immerse myself in Chinese culture and lifestyle."