Sabrina Malikova, 20, a Russian student at Beijing Foreign Studies University, said she has been learning Chinese for 11 years. "I have always had a strong interest in Chinese culture. I find Chinese characters very beautiful, so I started learning Chinese."

She noted that the enthusiasm for learning Chinese has grown rapidly in Russia. "Yes, many people are learning Chinese. There is now a Chinese language fever in Russia, and learning Chinese has become a common trend." Some schools offer Chinese courses at the primary, middle and high school levels, as well as at universities, she added.

The China-Russia Years of Education promotes educational exchanges through activities, forums, exchange meetings and other forms, she said. Many Russians will come to China, and many Chinese will go to Russia. This will enable people from both countries to get to know each other and learn from each other. It will certainly help strengthen the friendship between China and Russia, she added.