On March 18, the Minister Counsellor of the Embassy of the Russian Federation in China, the Deputy Chief of Mission, Ivan Zhelokhovtsev, visited Nankai University. He visited the “Striving with Patriotism, Achieving Progress with Each Passing Day to Acquire Capability and Serve the Public” Exhibition on the Theme of the History of Nankai University, and presented flowers to the statue of Premier Zhou Enlai in the company of Sun Linjiang, Director of the Department of Eurasian Affairs of the Ministry of Foreign Affairs of China and Zhao Jianling, the Deputy Director of Tianjin Foreign Affairs Office. Wang Lei, Vice President of Nankai University, also met with Zhelokhovtsev.

During his visit to the exhibition, Zhelokhovtsev learned in detail the history, management strategies, educational aims and achievements of Nankai University. He showed interest in learning the cultural connotations of the motto of Nankai University “Dedication to public interests, acquisition of all-round capability, aspiration for progress with each passing day”. He expressed sincere praise for Nankai’s glorious tradition of patriotism and dedication to the homeland, and showed deep respect for the elites that came from all walks of life who were developed by Nankai University.

In the front square of the Main Building of Nankai University, Zhelokhovtsev looked reverentially upon the white marble statue of Premier Zhou Enlai, and slowly walked forward to pay a floral tribute and make obeisance in memory of the great figure engraved in the minds of all in the world who pursue peace and justice.

On that day, Wang Xu, the Deputy Mayor of Tianjin, met with Zhelokhovtsev in the company of Yu Hai, Member of the Standing Committee of the CPC Nankai University Committee.

The communication and cooperation between Nankai University and Russian colleges can be traced back to Soviet times. In 1987, Professor Ludwig D. Faddeev, Director of the Euler International Mathematical Institute of St. Petersburg Steklov Mathematical Institute, became the first Soviet scholar to be appointed as an honorary professor in Chinese colleges. Since then, the cooperation between Nankai University and Russian colleges has been further strengthened, with academic cooperative relationships established with universities and institutions such as Moscow State University, Ural Federal University, St. Petersburg State University.

Participants in the activities on campus on the day of the visit included related officials of the School of Foreign Languages, Nankai University, the Publicity Department of the CPC Nankai University Committee, and the Office of International Cooperation and Exchange, Nankai University.

(Reported and Photographed by Junhui Wu, Translated by Junlin He, Edited by Daniel Stefan and JianjingYun)