Renowned Russian cultural activist Irina Zakharova presented her new book, "The Magic of Chinese Paper Cutting," to readers on the auspicious occasion of the Chinese "Grain Rain" festival. With the deepening of the comprehensive strategic partnership between China and Russia in the new era, as well as China's increasing status on the international stage, the popularity of the Chinese language in Russia has greatly increased and has been included in the national unified examination. Russia is now considered one of the most active countries in promoting the popularity of the Chinese language.
In 2019, Chinese was officially incorporated as a foreign language subject in the Russian national unified examination. In the following years, Chinese education in Russia experienced rapid development. Currently, there are 17,000 school-age children studying Chinese throughout Russia, with 170 primary and secondary schools offering Chinese courses. Russia places increasing importance on Chinese education, and Russian parents support their children in learning Chinese. Many parents believe that mastering Chinese is beneficial to their children's future, second only to English. The number of parents supporting their children in learning Japanese, French, German, Spanish, and Arabic is comparatively small.
As Russia shifts its development strategy and strengthens cooperation with CIS countries and Asia-Pacific nations, China, as the world's second-largest economy and one of Russia's most important economic and trade partners, provides opportunities for Russia to integrate into the Asia-Pacific economic sphere and achieve industrial structural upgrading. The accelerating pace of China-Russia economic and trade cooperation has also led to a growing demand for Chinese language talent in Russia.
However, learning Chinese is not easy, as there are significant cultural differences between Russia and China. It is challenging to cultivate individuals who are proficient in Chinese and familiar with the social situation in China. Therefore, there is a considerable demand for Chinese language talents in Russia, making it an increasingly desirable skill for Russian parents to wish their children to acquire. The rising popularity of Chinese language learning in Russia is also influenced by the growing impact of Chinese popular culture in the country.
Russian readers have shown a growing interest in contemporary Chinese writers, with a particular emphasis on science fiction and online novels. The works of renowned Chinese science fiction writer Liu Cixin have been reprinted multiple times, and the novel "The Untamed" by internet writer Mo Xiang Tong Xiu has been published, with illustrations by Russian artists. Chinese science fiction emerged in the 1980s, and the development of online literature has only been around for approximately 20 years. Both forms represent the newest and most dynamic literary styles in China. During the initial stages of Chinese science fiction, many works drew inspiration from European and American literature, while numerous online novels incorporated elements of European magical realism and historical fiction. For Russian readers, these works have a lower reading threshold compared to other genres of Chinese novels.
The development of online novels in China has been rapid, with many works incorporating a wealth of Chinese cultural elements. For example, the novel "Buddhism Is Dao," considered the pioneer of the "Huanghuang (Primordial Chaos) genre," creatively combines elements from "Journey to the West" and "Investiture of the Gods" in an engaging story. For Russian readers who admire Chinese culture but may not have direct access to it, these types of works cater to their taste. In order to cultivate Chinese language talents in Russia, besides increasing investment, it is necessary to strengthen cultural understanding. Students should not only master the language skills of reading and writing, but also have a more comprehensive and in-depth knowledge of Chinese culture. Familiarity with Chinese traditions, both traditional and contemporary, helps reduce communication barriers with Chinese people and enables individuals to become valuable contributors in promoting economic cooperation and cultural integration.
In the process of promoting Chinese language education worldwide, most countries incorporate traditional Chinese cultural content. However, the use of calligraphy, classical poetry, ink painting, and other traditional art forms can sometimes feel distant from students' daily lives, creating a sense of alienation. Popular literary genres such as science fiction and online novels align more closely with the tastes of those starting to explore Chinese culture, making it easier to generate students' interest in Chinese society and culture. Russia can leverage these types of works to guide young people in their journey of learning Chinese.
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