Russia, China to conduct cross-year of education

MOSCOW. May 12 (Interfax) - Russia and China have agreed to hold a cross-year of education, Russian President Vladimir Putin said on.

"Today, the Chinese president proposed an initiative to hold bilateral years of education. We support this timely and useful idea," Putin said in a statement following the Russian-Chinese summit talks in Moscow on May 8.

He also said that tens of thousands of students are currently studying in both countries on a reciprocal basis. "There are 21,000 Russian students in China, and 51,000 Chinese students in our country. More than 160 bilateral educational programs for undergraduate and postgraduate students are available in Russian and Chinese," the Russian president said.

There are also 27 joint educational institutions, including the flagship Joint Russian-Chinese University created by Moscow State University jointly with the Beijing Institute of Technology, he said.

There are 12 inter-university associations that incorporate around 600 educational institutions, Putin said.