Thirty-five Chinese and Russian universities formed an alliance for journalism education on July 9 at Renmin University of China in Beijing with the goal of consolidating the achievements of China-Russia interpersonal exchanges and deepening bilateral cooperation.

Peking University, Tsinghua University and Fudan University are among the 19 universities from the Chinese mainland to join. Two universities from China’s special administrative regions—Hong Kong Baptist University and the University of Macau—also participated. The remaining members of the alliance comprise 14 Russian universities, including Lomonosov Moscow State University and St. Petersburg State University.

The establishment of the China-Russian Journalism Education University Alliance will strengthen communication between the two countries, cultivate quality media professionals and facilitate mutual coverage, said Victor Konnov, cultural counselor at the Russian Embassy in China.

Zhao Qizheng, dean of the School of Journalism at Renmin University, added that the alliance aims to promote collaborative innovation of the two nations in journalism education, facilitate talent cultivation and scientific research in journalism, and nurture cultural ambassadors in greater number and competence.

A number of experts, student and teacher representatives from the 35 universities attended the meeting along with a number of media professionals. Topics for discussion included such issues as interpersonal exchanges and cooperation, news communication and education, and the building of the international discourse system. In addition, the assembly published the Beijing Declaration outlining its goals and future plans.