People's bonds strengthen bilateral relationship

As we commemorate the 30th anniversary of the China-Russia strategic partnership of coordination and the 25th anniversary of the China-Russia Treaty of Good-Neighborliness and Friendly Cooperation in 2026, the timing of Russian President Vladimir Putin's visit to China is particularly significant.

Over the years, people-to-people cooperation has been a vital component of bilateral relations between China and Russia, reflecting the evolution of ties from good-neighborliness and friendly cooperation to a comprehensive strategic partnership of coordination for a new era.

As China-Russia relations have grown stronger and cooperation has expanded, people-to-people exchanges have become essential for developing a new model of major-country relations. They have reinforced the social foundation for high-level cooperation.

Unlike China's commercially driven exchanges with Western countries, which can be disrupted by political factors, its people-to-people cooperation with Russia has consistently been government-led and worked seamlessly alongside political and economic collaboration.

In today's rapidly changing international landscape, where "public opinion warfare" and "information warfare" are constantly reshaping perceptions, China-Russia cooperation has shown remarkable resilience. People-to-people exchanges have played a key role, with advances in technology and transportation significantly enhancing cultural cooperation and interactions.

These exchanges have profoundly affected bilateral relations, including political and economic ties.

In fact, people-to-people exchanges have emerged as a new form of diplomacy, distinct from traditional diplomacy in participants, forms, concepts and objectives.

Alongside cultural diplomacy, this people-to-people diplomacy has gained prominence. Russian scholars note that China-Russia cultural and people-to-people cooperation is systematic and continually enriched with new content, representing a planned and comprehensive interaction.

Since establishing a comprehensive strategic partnership of coordination for a new era in 2019, China-Russia people-to-people cooperation has focused on in-depth, quality development, creating broader opportunities for growth.

In June 2021, the two heads of state issued a joint statement commemorating the 20th anniversary of the treaty, emphasizing the need to expand exchanges in education, academia and culture and enhance the role of cultural centers, friendship associations, and social organizations.

In recent years, both countries have strengthened collaboration in higher and vocational education, scientific research, culture, arts and sports, fostering the growth of cultural and educational endeavors.

New cooperation models and channels are being explored, such as using the internet to enhance media collaboration and cultural showcases, and increasing youth exchanges, especially among students, to cultivate talent with global perspectives and cross-cultural communication skills.

Tourism and public health exchanges have become new focal points.

As the international landscape and inter-state relations evolve, China-Russia bilateral cooperation has increasingly incorporated rich people-to-people elements at both global and regional levels.

The two countries have jointly opposed the politicization of health issues in multilateral forums, supported each other's initiatives internationally, and collaborated on ensuring biosecurity and building a global health infrastructure.

During their respective presidencies of the SCO and BRICS, China and Russia hosted hundreds of events, many of them focused on people-to-people exchanges.

Both countries have encouraged their youth to actively engage in multilateral activities organized by BRICS and the SCO.

Following the launch of the Belt and Road Initiative, its principles of people-to-people connectivity have gained Russian support, particularly the emphasis on mutual respect and learning among civilizations.

This approach lays the groundwork for broad partnerships and facilitates bilateral exchanges in education, sports, and culture.

As close neighbors, China and Russia benefit from geographical and cultural advantages that enhance their cooperation.

Extensive people-to-people exchanges have fostered closer ties between their populations. Polls indicate that mutual favorability is rising, which is crucial for stable and friendly state-to-state relations.

Data from the Levada Center show that Russian society's attitude toward China has undergone positive changes, with a consistently high proportion holding a favorable view of China for over a decade.

In May 2020, an online survey conducted by the China-Russia Committee for Friendship, Peace and Development showed that 93.1 percent of Chinese respondents held a non-negative view of Russia while 82.6 percent of Russians felt the same about China.

A 2024 Levada Center poll found that while Chinese goods remained the top interest for Russians at 29 percent, travel and natural scenery at 27 percent and traditional Chinese medicine, culture, art, literature and films at 25 percent, were close behind, with gaps narrowing significantly.

With the mutual visa exemption and the official launch of the China-Russia Years of Education, efforts to enhance people-to-people connectivity have received strong policy support. Various mechanisms have been established, and the number of councils under the China-Russia Committee for Friendship, Peace and Development has steadily grown.

Additionally, 15 university alliances in similar disciplines have been formed. Both sides are actively engaging in technological innovation cooperation, enhancing connectivity in the digital sector, and complementing each other's strengths.

This "new infrastructure" has emerged as a fresh growth point, marking a new stage in the development of bilateral relations.

People-to-people interactions are a crucial pillar of the China-Russia strategic partnership that guarantees everlasting friendship between the two countries.

A key indicator of this is the shift from a top-down approach to a dynamic, two-way interaction driven by both top-down and bottom-up forces. This has led to comprehensive, wide-ranging and multi-level cooperation.

People-to-people exchanges and friendship can transcend differences in systems, civilizations and ideologies, providing stable and robust endogenous momentum for bilateral relations.

The author is the director of the Institute of Russian, Eastern European and Central Asian Studies, Chinese Academy of Social Sciences.

The views don't necessarily represent those of China Daily.

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