It seeks to expand cooperation in art education, build a platform for youth cultural exchange, and strengthen the cultural foundation for mutual understanding and people-to-people bonds between the two nations.

The opening ceremony took the form of a concert, blending symphony, folk music, choral performances, and cutting-edge artificial intelligence technology. Faculty and students from the Central Conservatory of Music, along with Chinese and Russian artists, performed classic works from both countries, showcasing the achievements of art education on both sides.

Melissa Baidak, a 26-year-old doctoral student from Russia at Beijing Foreign Studies University, said the China-Russia Years of Education, which runs from 2026 to 2027, has taken on real meaning for her. "I have been learning languages since I was young, and my studies are closely related to education. But after coming to China, I never imagined I would be able to participate in the China-Russia Years of Education in person," she said.