He has sent a letter to Rector Ilshat Gafurov.

The epidemic situation associated with coronavirus in Russia is taken close to heart by the Chinese people, especially in connection with the recent surge in confirmed cases in the Volga Federal District. We are sympathetic to how it affects the health and learning process of students and teachers. At this difficult moment, on behalf of the Consulate General and on my own behalf, I express my sympathy to your educational institution.

We can see that, under the personal guidance of President Vladimir Putin, the Russian Government has taken a number of active measures to contain the epidemic. Recently, President Xi Jinping spoke twice with President Vladimir Putin over the telephone and mentioned that the countries have common borders and that the hearts of the peoples of the two countries are experiencing the same thing. In turn, China provided assistance to Russia, actively helps the Russian side in the procurement of anti-epidemic medical materials in China, and continues to provide strong support to the Russian side. Thank you for the active work done by the Russian side for Chinese citizens who are in Russia. Our side is confident that the Russian side provides security for the normal work and life of Chinese citizens in Russia. The Chinese government and people strongly support the Russian side in the fight against coronavirus through practical action. We have every reason to believe that the Russian people will certainly win the fight against the epidemic.

Last year, the heads of state of China and Russia raised relations between our countries to the level of "Russian-Chinese comprehensive partnership and strategic interaction entering a new era." Educational ties between the two countries are becoming closer day by day. More and more Russian students study in China, and more and more Chinese students come to study in Russia. They become friendly messengers of the inter-civilizational and cultural exchange between our countries.

We are grateful to your university for its constant attention to the development of Sino-Russian relations and care for our foreign students for many years. We are pleased that more and more Chinese students are coming to your university to study the Russian language and master their knowledge, practice their skills, and promote cooperation. During the epidemic, we have seen how your university cares about the safety of life and health of our students. And we again ask you to take the necessary measures to protect their legitimate rights and interests, strengthen control over Chinese students living in dormitories, to avoid the risk of cross infections associated with personal mobility, and help them cope with the daily needs of life, study and medical assistance, especially with respect to the reasonable concerns that Chinese graduates have about receiving diplomas.

The epidemic will eventually end, and the Consulate General will continue to maintain and strengthen friendly contacts with your university. I would like to work together with you to promote cooperation between universities of the two countries in student education, scientific cooperation, social services, cultural heritage and international cooperation, as well as to stimulate joint development.

I wish teachers and students of your university to overcome difficulties as soon as possible!

Consul General of the People’s Republic of China in Kazan Wu Yingqin

Translation: Yury Nurmeev