New Agreements, opening of the "Peili Workshop" and the Confucius Institute: how the delegation of Yanka Kupala State University of Grodno's visit to China went

The large-scale working visit of the delegation of Yanka Kupala State University of Grodno led by Rector Iryna Kiturka to Gansu Province is coming to an end. Today, on July 1, the final meetings with representatives of Chinese educational institutions took place. Five major cooperation agreements were signed, which will make friendly and educational ties even stronger.

The working day began with a visit to Gansu Vocational and Technical College of Transportation. During the meeting, trilateral negotiations were held with the participation of the college leadership and representatives of the UNESCO Association of Gansu Province on the implementation of the "Peili Workshop" project on the basis of YKSUG. The meeting concluded with a sightseeing tour of the college. Our delegation became acquainted with the advanced material and technical base, modern educational laboratories and the unique experience of colleagues in training highly qualified specialists.

The next stop on the business trip was Lanzhou Institute of Business and Technology. Rector Iryna Kiturka and Vice-Rector for Academic Affairs Liavontsi Paulau met with representatives of the institution to discuss vectors of joint work. During the negotiations, the parties discussed academic exchange, the launch of joint educational programs and strengthening scientific ties between teachers and students of the two higher education institutions.

The main event of the day was the opening ceremony of the First Belarusian-Chinese Regional Forum, which was attended by representatives of Yanka Kupala State University of Grodno.

During the plenary session of the forum, Iryna Kiturka delivered a report on "Strategic Approaches in the Development of Regional Partnership with Universities of China." In her speech, she noted that the cooperation between Yanka Kupala State University of Grodno and the People's Republic of China is a contribution to the implementation of the strategic task of developing regional partnership set by the President of the Republic of Belarus Aleksandr Lukashenko. Iryna Kiturka emphasized the international recognition of the university, noting that in 2023 it passed international accreditation and its diplomas are successfully recognized in China. She also presented the key mechanisms of interaction between Yanka Kupala State University of Grodno and Chinese partners and shared plans for further strengthening ties between educational institutions of the two countries.

On the sidelines of the forum, representatives of Yanka Kupala State University of Grodno signed five important agreements allowing them to expand the horizons of cooperation with Chinese colleagues. These include the Agreement on the Implementation of the Project to Establish the China-Belarus Educational Center "Peili Workshop" with Gansu Vocational and Technical College of Transportation, the Memorandum on Deepening International Cooperation with Lanzhou Modern Vocational College, the International Cooperation Agreement with Lanzhou University, the Roadmap for 2026–2027 on the Establishment of the Confucius Institute of YKSUG jointly with Xinjiang Normal University, and the International Cooperation Agreement with Lanzhou University of Arts and Science.

The signing of such a large number of agreements confirms the high status of Yanka Kupala State University of Grodno on the international stage and opens up new opportunities for professional, scientific, educational and cultural interaction.

For reference: The history of cooperation between Yanka Kupala State University of Grodno and Chinese educational institutions began in 2001 with the signing of an agreement with the South-Central University of Economics and Law. Today, YKSUG interacts with 48 universities and organizations of the People's Republic of China.

Yanka Kupala State University of Grodno collaborates especially closely with educational institutions and organizations of Gansu Province. On August 3, 2018, during the visit of the Gansu Province delegation to YKSUG, the opening ceremony of the Gansu Province Personnel Internship Center was held.

Since 2023, cooperation agreements have been signed with Lanzhou City University, Longnan Normal College, Hexi University, Lanzhou Institute of Business and Technology, Lanzhou Vocational and Technical School of Experimental Art Qi Ai, Lanzhou Modern Vocational College and Gansu Vocational and Technical College of Transportation.

Since 2025, together with Chinese partners, the International Center for Language and Cultural Exchange and the China-Belarus Vocational Education Practice Base have been established and are operating at Lanzhou Modern Vocational College.

To discuss vectors of interaction, representatives of YKSUG and delegations of Gansu Province regularly make mutual visits. Discussion of cooperation prospects also takes place in the format of online negotiations.