ArecentlysurveyonChina-Russiayouthfriendshipandculturalexchangesshowedpositiveperceptionsofbilateralrelationsamongyoungergenerations.

Thesurvey,conductedbytheChineseandRussiansidesoftheCouncilofEducationundertheChina-RussiaCommitteeforFriendship,PeaceandDevelopment,coveredpeopleaged18-35inbothcountries.Morethan80%ofrespondentsdescribedChina-Russiarelationsasfriendly.

ChineseforeignministryspokespersonGuoJiakuncalledthesurvey"atruebarometerofpublicopinioninChinaandRussia".thatreflectsthehighlevelofbilateralrelationsandthehopeforgreaterexchangesamongyoungpeople.

Formanyyoungpeople,culturalexchangeisincreasinglytakingplaceonline.ArtemUsov,aRussianvloggerlivinginChina,isamongthosehelpingstrengthenmutualunderstandingthroughdigitalplatforms.

UsovarrivedinChinain2012topursueabachelor'sdegreeinbusinessadministrationatDonghuaUniversityinShanghai.HavinglivedinChinaformorethan12years,henowresidesinJilincity,northeastChina'sJilinprovince.HeisalsoengagedtoaChinesefiancee.

"It'sthemixofthingsactuallythatkeepsmehere—overallqualityoflife,convenience,safetyandbusinessopportunities,tonameafew,"hesaid.

UsovcreatesentertainingvideosintroducingRussianculture,whilealsoproducinglifestyleandtravelvlogsacrossChinaforRussianaudiences.

"ItwasactuallyduringtheCOVIDpandemicthatIstartedmakingvideos—justtoentertainmyselfwhileathome,"hesaid."ButsuddenlyIwouldgetmanyviewsandIjustkeptgoingeversince."

Today,Usovhasaccumulatedmorethan1.5millionfollowersacrossallplatforms,includingDouyin,Bilibili,XiaohongshuandYouTube.

Throughhiscontent,UsovhopestohelpRussianaudiencesbetterunderstandChineseculture,historyandcuisine,whileintroducingChineseviewerstoRussianlanguageandcustoms.

"Forexample,IjustmadeavideoabouthowinRussiait'stabootoshakehandsinadoorway,"hesaid.

HehasalsonoticedgrowingcuriosityamongChinesepeopleaboutRussia.

"ChinesepeoplearemoreinterestedinRussianproductslately,"Usovsaid."Alotofpeople,theyaskmeaboutRussianchocolatesorothersweets.Also,moreandmoreChinesepeople[are]interestedintravelingtoRussia."

Thisgrassrootscuriosityalignswithbroaderdiplomaticmomentum.RussianPresidentVladimirPutinarrivedinBeijingonTuesdayforastatevisittoChinafromMay19-20,markinghis25thvisittothecountry.

Thisyearmarksthe30thanniversaryoftheestablishmentoftheChina-Russiastrategicpartnershipofcoordinationandthe25thanniversaryofthesigningoftheChina-RussiaTreatyofGood-NeighborlinessandFriendlyCooperation.

Aheadofhisstatevisit,PresidentPutinsaidinavideoaddressonTuesdaythatRussiaandChinaareactivelyexpandingtheircontactsinpolitics,theeconomyandotherfields,whilebroadeninghumanitarianexchangesandencouragingperson-to-personinteraction.

Lookingahead,Usovbelievestourismandeducationasareaswithparticularlystrongpotentialforfuturecooperation.Withthemutualvisa-freepolicy,heexpectsthatmoreRussianpeoplewilltraveltoChina.Healsonotedthatmanyuniversitiesnowhaveexchangeprogramsallowingstudentstostudyinbothcountries:"Ithinkthat'sveryimportanttodevelopthiskindofprogramsforuserstoexchangeknowledgeandachievebettereducation."