“I have been involved with China my entire life,” said Galina Kulikova, first deputy chairperson of the Russia-China Friendship Association, who received the Friendship Medal, China’s highest state honor.
Kulikova’s lifelong involvement with China exemplifies the enduring bonds of friendship and cooperation between nations, especially as China continues to engage globally through initiatives like the Belt and Road Initiative (BRI).
Bilateral ties are enhanced at the grassroots level, where there is a growing interest in China among Russians, especially youths, Kulikova said. “I must say that our Russia-China Friendship Association today primarily focuses on the regions because the public base of bilateral relations can only develop through the regions of Russia,” she said. “Our task is to work with the youth. The number of schools offering Chinese language education is growing. Interest in the Chinese language is growing,” she said.