The Tatarstan-Chinese Relations in the Humanitarian Sphere : Forms of Interaction

The relevance of the research problem in the first place is due to the fact that the XXI century has opened for Russia and China new opportunities for further development of bilateral relations, characterized by dynamism over the past decade. Strategic cooperation between Russia and China, proclaimed in the late 90-ies of the last century as the basis, creates regionally favorable political opportunities for bilateral cooperation. The purpose of this study is to examine the Tatarstan-Chinese relations in the humanitarian sphere, as this aspect of the bilateral relationship hasn’t been fully reviewed in the scientific literature. A leading approach to the study of this problem are the principles of historicism and scientific objectivity, consistency, as well as the description and analysis of specific situations, international projects, their explanation, comparison and generalization. The article presents the results of research the Tatarstan-Chinese relations in the humanitarian sphere, namely: the estimation of efficiency of bilateral cooperation in the field of culture, education and science during the studied period is given; identified promising areas of growth for cooperation in the fields of the study; recommendations for improving the implementation of joint humanitarian projects are offered. Materials of the article can be useful for the staff of government institutions in elaboration of regional development strategy in the field of culture, science and education, and also can be used in special and generalizing researches on general history, history of international relations and interstate relations of Russia and China; in the writing of textbooks on modern history of Russia and China, the history of Russian-Chinese political, economic and cultural ties.


Introduction
The current level of regional cooperation between Russia and China generates new possibilities of interaction of national market economies, territories, cultures, peoples and political systems of the two neighboring states and influences the development of multilateral regional integration processes in the Asia-Pacific region (Sharko, 2010).So far approximately 50 subjects of the Russian Federation and cities are involved in the Russian-Chinese interregional cooperation.Contacts of boundary regions have developed the most intensively.These are Primorsky and Khabarovsk territories, the Amur, the Chita regions and the Jewish Autonomous region from the Russian side, and also the Province of Heilongjiang, Liaoning, Jilin, the Autonomous region of Inner Mongolia are from the Chinese side (Rogachev, 2005;Larin, 2005).Gradually, the areas of the western part of Russia, such as Tatarstan more actively start to be involved in the process of regional cooperation.Study of the Tatarstan-Chinese relations will not only reveal the considerable potential of bilateral cooperation in various spheres, but also help to solve a number of important issues, and thus will contribute to the strengthening of mutual understanding and trust between the Republic of Tatarstan and China.
The paper presents the results of a study of the Tatarstan-Chinese relations in the humanitarian sphere, namely in the fields of culture, education and science.The bilateral partnership in the sphere of education and science continues more than a decade, but every year the number of joint projects and developments are increasing (Maslov, 2009).The relevance of cooperation with educational and research institutions in China is due to several factors, including effective economic development of China, its positioning as a strategic partner of Russia, the increasing need for training of qualified national personnel, including abroad.And the creation of a strong inter-state legal framework of humanitarian cooperation contributes to the rapid development of relations in this sphere (Alikberova, 2014).

The Objectives of the Study
To achieve the goal of studying the Tatarstan-Chinese relations in the humanitarian sphere the following tasks were set: 1) to study bilateral relationship in the field of culture, science and education in the 2000th; 2) to reveal the perspective directions of growth of cooperation in the studied areas; 3) to analyze and evaluate the effectiveness partnership during the studied period; 4) to provide specific proposals for improving the implementation of joint humanitarian projects.

Theoretical and Empirical Methods
The methodological basis of the submitted work are the principles of historicism and scientific objectivity, consistency, as well as the description and analysis of specific situations, international projects, their explanation, comparison and generalization.Analysis of domestic and foreign policy relationships, economic and social factors that affect the Russian-Chinese relations in the studied period, allows presenting an objective scientific picture of the development of bilateral scientific cooperation.
The solution of these problems is based on the algorithm of the systematic approach, since this complex and quite dynamic phenomenon as the Russian-Chinese relations can be objectively evaluated only through an integrated consideration of all factors and reasons influencing its dynamics, leaving a mark on its character, driving forces, etc.The use of systemic-structural method enables us to reconstruct the mechanism of interaction of components of relations in the field of culture and education, system elements of interstate relations in the humanitarian sphere.
A complex of the following scientific methods was used: analysis and synthesis, induction and deduction, measurement, description, explanation, generalization and others.In addition, methods which are widely applied in modern historical researches, such as the historical and systematic, comparative-historical, retrospective, quantitative analysis and others were also used.

Results
The normalization of political relations between the two countries in the late 1980s and early 1990s created the preconditions for the development of educational ties to a new level.In this period there was a real boom in the study of Russian and Chinese languages not only in the border areas of the two countries.Such surge in interest in many respects was defined not by cultural interest, but market conditions: demand for experts (Kasimova, 2013).And the Volga-Vyatka region of Russia wasn't an exception.
At the faculty of Tatar Philology of Kazan State University the Department of Oriental languages opened, where Chinese is started to be taught after a long break.In 2000, the Department was transformed into the Institute of Oriental studies and Chinese becomes one of the main oriental languages of specialization of students.In structure of this Institute the Institute of Confucius was opened which started its functioning in September, 2007.The University partner from the Chinese side has become Hunan Normal University (HNU, Changsha, China), the agreement on educational, scientific and cultural cooperation which was signed in 1990.
The Tatarstan-Chinese relations in the humanitarian sphere have been developing for more than twenty years, but they entered its most active phase after the arrival to our Republic of the Chinese President Hu Jintao in March 2007.As a result of his visit, an Agreement on opening of the Confucius Institute (hereinafter the CI) on the basis of Kazan State University (now Kazan (Volga region) Federal University) was signed, which became a distribution center for Chinese language and culture in the Republic of Tatarstan.Today the Confucius Institute of the Kazan University has opened its branch offices in the city of Naberezhnye Chelny, Yelabuga, Cheboksary and in a number of Kazan schools.
According to the official reports of the Department of External Relations KFU (DER KFU) in 2010 Kazan (Volga) Federal University signed an agreement on cooperation and participation in joint research and educational projects with six Chinese universities and organizations -Hunan Normal University, Xiangtan University (Hunan province, Xiangtan), Xinjiang University (Xinjiang Uygur Autonomous region, the city of Urumuqi), Guangdong University of Foreign Studies (Guangdong province, Guangzhou), Shandong University (Shandong province, Jinan), and Chinese University of Science and Earth (Hubei province, Wuhan).In 2010, the active work was launched with only two universities (Hunan Normal University and Chinese University of Science and Earth).Formally contracts existed, but in fact the scientific and educational exchange wasn't carried out fully.
According to the information reference published on the site by DER KFU for 2014 cooperation is carried out with the following educational and scientific organizations: Hunan Normal University (student and teaching staff exchange, the main direction -philology, Russian and Chinese languages, cooperation in the framework of the Confucius Institute); the State office for promotion of Chinese as a foreign language (Hanban), organization and financing of the Confucius Institute); Jinan University (scientific cooperation in the field of physics); Institute of traditional Chinese medicine and natural products, University of Wuhan (scientific cooperation in the field of biology); Shanghai astronomical observatory (scientific cooperation in the field of astronomy, join research, publications); Beijing University of International Studies (Beijing Second institute of foreign languages, involving Chinese students to study in KFU, philology); Shanghai Normal University (student mobility, the main direction -philology, Russian and Chinese); Nankai University, Tianjin (scientific cooperation in the field of ecology, training employees of KFU); University Guangzhou (student mobility, philology); Xinjiang University (biology, philology); National astronomical observatory of Academy of Sciences of China; Nanjing Normal University (Nanjing, China).It should be noted the positive dynamics of cooperation with Chinese direction, by 2014 the number of partnership contracts has doubled, and has also expanded the scope of joint research projects.
Student mobility program with Hunan Normal University is one of the most active programs in KFU.In addition to student teaching staff exchange is also realized: at least one teacher of Chinese and Russian are sent to the partner university for the academic year.In the 2014/15 academic year 2 teachers from HNU are in KFU: Li Miao is at the Institute of International Relations, History and Oriental studies and Li Zhengwen is in Yelabuga branch of Kazan Federal University.Another Chinese teacher Liu Dongna from Xinjiang Normal University works at the Institute of International Relations, History and Oriental studies of KFU also on the line and with the financial support of the State office for promotion of Chinese as a foreign language (Hanban).The Kazan University invites scientists from China to speak with open lectures to staff and students of the university, and scientists of KFU in its turn participate in scientific events in China.In 2013, the director of the Institute of International Relations, History and Oriental Studies KFU Prof. R.R. Khairutdinov participated in the international conference "1943: laying a foundation to the post-war world political pattern", dedicated to the 70th anniversary of the Cairo and Teheran conferences (Beijing,(23)(24)(25).During the conference working meetings of R.R. Khairutdinov with the management of Institutes of a Modern History and the World History CASS took place.Concrete steps towards the development of bilateral scientific relations, preparation of agreements on cooperation between institutions were discussed.
In August 2014 the director of the Institute of International Relations, History and Oriental R.R. Khairutdinov successfully completed training at the professional development seminar organized at East-China Normal University (ECNU) for directors of the Confucius Institute and heads of Oriental world universities.
East-China Normal University (ECNU) is the basic university to the State office for the promotion of Chinese language and culture overseas (Hanban) on scientific methodically maintenance of activity of the Confucius Institutes around the world.
During the week, more than 30 heads of institutions from various countries (Russia, Pakistan, South Korea, Cambodia, Japan, Turkey, Benin, Ethiopia, the USA, Germany, Spain, Canada, Peru, Chile, Denmark, Kyrgyzstan, Tajikistan, Ireland, Zimbabwe, etc.) attended lectures, participated in round tables, seminars, exchanged views and discussed under new plans learning Chinese language and culture, the program of development of Confucius Institutes, peculiarities of Chinese language teaching, the evaluation of the quality of Confucius Institutes and other issues.
Within the framework of bilateral regional relations cooperation between the Kazan branch of the RIO and Xinjiang historical society, multinational region of China, which is inhabited by Tatars, Uighurs, Kazakhs, Uzbeks and other ethnic groups and nationalities has big prospects.Miao Pusan, the chairman of the Xinjiang historical society, vice-president of the Xinjiang Academy of Social Sciences, has expressed a deep interest in the exchange of scientists and experts, personnel training in universities and research centers in Xinjiang province as well as in the institutes and faculties of KFU, the prospects of joint work on the history of Xinjiang and ancient history of the Tatar people on the identification and publication of historical sources.
Professor of theoretical physics R.R. Nigmatullin successfully cooperates with Shandong University.In April 2014, in a Chinese university, Professor Nigmatullin read a series of lectures on the general theory of the reproduced experiment and reduction to ideal conditions.Now the draft of the framework agreement on cooperation and the protocol on student exchange is discussed with the international department of Shandong University.
Since 2012 the partnership of the faculty of Law of KFU with the law School of Nanjing Normal University of China which takes the leading position in the system of the Chinese legal education has been developing.Law students of KFU for two consecutive years (2013 and 2014) participated in the Summer school of law, held on the basis of Nanjing University.Round tables, visits to the Supreme people's court of Jiangsu province during the court session on the criminal case and also acquaintance with the culture of China were provided by the summer school program.
Classes were held in English and Chinese languages.In September 2014, the representatives of Nanjing University participated in the international scientific-practical conference "Legal science and education in the XXI century" dedicated to the 210th anniversary of Kazan University and also gave a series of lectures on criminal law for students and undergraduates of the faculty of Law.
On October 24-28, 2014 the delegation of the faculty of Law of KFU consisting of the Dean of faculty of Law, Professor I. Tarkhanov, deputy deans Professor M. Talan and associate Professor I. Salikhov, senior lecturer A. Balafendiyev and graduate student Li Xu visited the law school of Nanjing normal university.Within the visit, the delegation participated in the international conference devoted to actual problems of criminal liability for violations in the financial sphere and also gave lectures on the main directions of development of modern criminal law of Russia and international perspectives of development of Russian legal education.During the visit the Memorandum of understanding between the legal institutes of KFU and Nanjing Normal University was signed.During multilateral meetings and negotiations with the leadership of the Nanjing University and the faculty of Law of KFU, with the participation of representatives of the Ministry of Justice and the Ministry of Education of China, colleagues reached an agreement on a number of interesting directions of development of mutually beneficial cooperation (realization of joint educational programs, joint research and publications in the Chinese and international press).Within work on involvement of foreign students of KFU the third year in a row (2012, 2013, and 2014) takes active part in the largest educational exhibition of China "China Education Expo".During the work of educational exhibition in 2013 the vice rector for external relations L.N. Latypov gave an interview to the Russian-language version of the Chinese CCTV channel.Also signing of the contract with the Chinese educational site "Global Education" which since December, 2013 began campaign for placement of information on KFU on its website took place.In November, 2013 a press tour on Kazan federal university for journalists from the USA, China, Turkey, Ukraine and Lithuania took place and a bit later reports and videos following the visit of the representatives of the foreign media were published.China Central Television -CCTV is filming a documentary about Kazan University.At the exhibition in 2014, which was held in Beijing on 25-26 October, Kazan Federal University was represented as a separate stand and in the overall exposure of the universities project "5Top100" organized by the Ministry of Education and science of the Russian Federation.Visitors of an exhibition among whom there were both potential entrants and their parents, showed a great interest to KFU stands.The directions of preparation on finance, philology, law and information technologies enjoyed the greatest popularity.Many of visitors left the contact information for obtaining more detailed information.Also Chinese citizens were interested in the questions connected with reception procedure, conditions of accommodation and English-language programs.Within the Chinese business program a visit of a delegation of Russian universities to Tianjin University of Foreign Languages (TUFL) which celebrates its 50th anniversary was organized on October 24.Signing of the Cooperation agreement between KFU and TUFL became a sign event.
Quite successfully within the international activity the Kazan National Research Technological University (KNRTU-KSCTI, former KSTU) cooperates with the Chinese universities.In 1989 the agreement with Central China Teaching University (the Province of Hubei, Wuhan) was signed, with Tianjin University of Light Industry and the Beijing Polytechnic University in 1992.In the next years the Xian University of Modern Chemistry and Liaoning Petrochemical University (Liaoning, Fushun) became partners of KNRTU.Since 2006 KNRTU carries out joint training of bachelors on direction "Russian language" with Liaoning University (Kasimova, 2013).
The table of interaction of the main Tatarstan universities given below with the Chinese clearly demonstrates leadership of the Kazan (Volga) Federal University in number of the signed agreements and contracts (information from the official websites of universities as of April, 2015) that is directly connected with the ambitious project of entry of the Kazan University into TOP 100 of the best universities of the world (see tab.On the basis of quantitative data tab.1 and the facts given above it is possible to draw the following conclusions: 1. Scientific and educational institutions of the Republic of Tatarstan underestimate the capacity of the Chinese educational market, including its secondary, understand prospects for joint training insufficiently.
2. In regional higher education institutions there is no systematic reliable information about the Chinese educational institutions.
3. Ignorance of educational programs and standards, business ethics of China leads to impossibility of implementation of the contracts and agreements signed with the Chinese universities, to serious violations in registration of such contracts, as a result new contracts aren't signed.
4. The international cooperation and the academic exchange are not fully carried out due to insufficient quantity of the qualified faculty.
Besides, after the conclusion of intergovernmental Russian-Chinese "Agreements on mutual recognition and equivalence of documents on education and academic degrees" (June 26, 1995, 中华人民共和国政府和俄罗斯 联邦政府关于互相承认学历、学位证书的协议) (Maslov, 2009) the number of Tatars who have completed Chinese universities and the Chinese with Russian diplomas has been a growing.But the development and implementation of dual-degree programs with universities of China is faced with the following difficulties due to the structure of the Chinese education: 1.The general state educational standard for higher education institutions doesn't exist, i.e. there is no required number of training hours for coordination of subjects at mutual recognition of diplomas and courses.
2. The system of credits (学分) in China does not correspond to the Russian units.
Officially parallel issue of two diplomas in a bachelor degree by two national universities by the Chinese side isn't supported, and masters' diplomas must obtain the approval of the Ministry of education of China.
It is possible to say that in recent years the Russian-Chinese economic and scientific-technical development in Russia is concentrated in two centers: the first -Far Eastern and Siberian federal districts, the second -in the cities with federal status (Tsi, 2009).Joint intergovernmental, interregional projects in the field of scientific research and high technologies are realized there.To that there is a practical explanation -in these centers there were the most favorable conditions for rapid and effective development of the Russian-Chinese relations in the field of science and technology facilitated by carefully designed legal framework: Federal target program of economic and social development of the Far East and the Baikal region for the period till 2013, Strategy for socio-economic development of the Far East and the Baikal region for the period until 2025, the Program of cooperation between the Russian Far East and Eastern Siberia of the Russian Federation and Northeast of China for 2009 -2018.It should be noted that at the APEC Forum in 2012, a special attention was paid to these issues.
If to speak about Federal cities and their suburbs as innovation and research centers, it should be noted the Russian-Chinese Technopark "Friendship", innovation center "Skolkovo", a multifunctional complex "Baltic pearl", Consortium "Centre for science and high technology", "Russian House of international scientific and technical cooperation".Scientific institutions of Russia, collaborating with Chinese colleagues in the sphere of joint scientific research and development, are also mainly focused on the Academies of Science and other research centers of the north-eastern provinces of China.
Thus, despite specific large projects in the field of mechanical engineering, aircraft industry, agriculture, construction between the Republic of Tatarstan and the provinces of Chinese Peoples Republic, the experience on creation of industrial platforms and industrial parks as well as active participation in various joint working groups on cooperation in trade-economic and humanitarian fields with regions of Chinese Peoples Republic, in the republic bilateral scientific potential is very poorly presented.Individual development is conducted on the basis of Kazan universities and practically are absent in the territory of Open Economic Zone "Alabuga", "Innopolis" and "Smart City" etc., though all conditions for this purpose are created and on their platforms the Chinese enterprises -residents are placed.That is confirmed by the nationwide pattern that in general China is extremely reluctant to admit to its scientific and technical space Russian researchers but, in turn, actively involves their development and uses the results of their researches.The insufficient awareness of the management of the Russian research centers on priorities and forms of action of China leads to the fact that quite often research centers of Russian Federation go on forms of cooperation, unprofitable for themselves, don't observe the key principle of parity of interests in the Russian-Chinese relations.In some cases joint scientific projects lead to unilateral transfer to the Chinese side important scientific information, intellectual property, technology of implementation of projects.
The Tatarstan-Chinese relations in the field of culture are not as dynamic as educational.In the early 2000s during the National years of China in Russia and of Russia in China, Kazan was visited with tours by the Chinese circus.It was the first large event of this kind; the presentation aroused great interest of the residents of the city to the Chinese culture.The next major event was the "Week of Chinese cinema" at Mir movie theater, the initiator was also the Chinese party -the State Fund of Chinese cinema.Daily within seven days novelties of cinema of China with subtitles in Russian were shown.
In 2007 after opening of the Confucius Institute in Kazan, the Kazan University became the main venue for cultural events.The Confucius Institute of KFU together with the Department of Sinology, history and culture of the countries of the Far East annually organizes 10-15 major projects focused on different age groups, attracting more and more participants not only from Tatarstan, but also from other regions of the Volga Federal district.So, "Chinese cultural Days", "Festival of Russian-Chinese songs", "Regional competition in Chinese" are very popular.A variety of workshops, open lessons, which introduce participants to the Chinese language, calligraphy, painting, music, books are conducted.
In the course of such events, citizens of Tatarstan have the opportunity to get acquainted with the unique culture of the neighboring country, its attractiveness.They have an even greater interest in Oriental country with an ancient civilization and enthusiasm to learn its language.
In addition to the Confucius Institute of KFU and its branches in Yelabuga and Naberezhnye Chelny, in Tatarstan since 2013 with assistance of the management of Embassy of China there is the Union of the Chinese students and graduate students.This organization is public, non-political, non-religious, non-profit, the main goals and tasks of which are:1) adaptation of the Chinese students to Tatarstan culture and traditions; 2) strengthening and deepening of mutual understanding and friendship between the Chinese, Russian and foreign students, graduate students, trainees; 3) assistance in strengthening of mutual understanding and friendship between the nations; 4) establishment and development of contacts with the public and educational organizations and other higher education institutions; 5) involvement of an increasing number of Chinese students and graduate students to student life.The Union of Chinese students and students is the organizer of various events, introduces representatives of other nations with Chinese culture and history.Thus, celebration of the Chinese New Year on the lunar calendar has become one of the most exciting events annually.As a rule, the House of friendship of the people which purpose is rendering the state support to the public national and cultural organizations which are a part of Assembly of people of Tatarstan on revival, preservation and development of cultures of the people of the Republic of Tatarstan becomes a platform for holding meetings, concerts, master classes.
In general the organization of the similar centers and associations promotes development of cultural and educational ties between PT and China, not only at the government level, but also at the level of individual contacts.Similar projects are capable to increase interest of citizens in culture and history of our countries and to expand scales of studying of the Russian and Chinese languages.All actions realized within intergovernmental agreements have big political and socio-cultural effect as the relation of the people to each other changes, the stream of reliable information about the countries increased that favorably influences image of the republic.
Besides, it should be noted the political and economic importance of these projects.After the organization of large projects in the field of culture and education the tourist stream, and also number of the Tatars who are trained in China, and the Chinese getting an education in the Republic of Tatarstan considerably increases.

Discussions
The Russian-Chinese relations are a constant object of research of Russian and foreign scientists.Studying a domestic and foreign historiography of humanitarian cooperation of Russia and China (Larin, 2005;Datsyishen, 2006;Gen, 1993;Liu, 1996), we see that scientists carried out a lot of work on this perspective, the considerable theoretical and factual material opening positions of the countries in foreign policy, scales of the Russian-Chinese relations in the field of culture, science and education is saved up, giving the chance for further work on the declared subject.It should be noted that regional aspects of bilateral interaction are investigated to a lesser extent, the Tatarstan-Chinese relations also haven't received adequate coverage in scientific literature.

Conclusion
Thus, some aspects demanding serious analysis and determination of priority interests of the Republic of Tatarstan and the Russian Federation in educational and scientific projects were outlined in the Tatarstan-Chinese relations in the sphere of culture, science and education.
In an educational and scientific exchange of Tatarstan educational institutions with China two regularities are obvious: first, cooperation develops mainly with universities and institutes of Northeast China, in their academic potential conceding Russian partners; secondly, the Russian direction for most of Chinese isn't priority.
Besides, speaking about the academic cooperation in the field of education, it should be noted insufficient number of the qualified specialists and teachers who simply know Chinese in Russia and Russian in China, but also have narrower sphere of teaching and research, for example: the teacher of Chinese and the translator in oil and gas industry, the teacher of classical Chinese, etc.
For further support and development of joint humanitarian projects it is necessary to develop carefully strategy of long-term, equal and mutually beneficial Russian-Chinese, Tatarstan-Chinese cooperation in this field.
1.It is necessary to increase macro management level in the management of educational cooperation and to strengthen coordination work of the Subcommittee on educational cooperation and the Commission on preparation of regular meetings of heads of governments.
2. To grow your own highly qualified personnel for bilateral scientific and educational cooperation, including personnel at all levels of management (government institutions, regional governments, educational institutions, research organizations, enterprises) that well know Chinese and understand domestic policy.
Since 2010, each year a summer camp in HNU is organized.The training program includes tours of Beijing and the provinces of Hunan and a 10-day intensive course of Chinese language study.Students of the program receive a HNU certificate.In 2014 the camp was held from July 4 to July 17, the group consisted of 20 students from Kazan, N.Chelny and Yelabuga.During stay in China the group completed a course on Chinese and got acquainted with culture of China Since 2008 in October in KFU annually there takes place the International conference "Russia-China: history and culture".Each year organizers choose a certain aspect of international policy, economy, history and culture of interaction of two countries as topic of the event.Annually the conference brings together about 50 sinologists and orientalists, including from partner Chinese universities.On October 9-10, 2014 on the basis of the Institute of International Relations, History and Oriental studies of KFU there took place already the 7th International scientific conference with the participation of the management of Hunan Teachers' Training Institute and representatives of the Chinese Embassy in Moscow.Participants discussed topical issues of philology and a technique of training in Chinese, and also history, a current state and prospects of the Russian-Chinese relations.Within this event an open lecture of the Professor of Peking University Xu Aiguo about the features of traditional Chinese jurisprudence and Professor Lee Zhengrong, who spoke on the relationship of Russian and Chinese literatures took place.Above-mentioned actions are carried out with financial support of the Confucius Institute.Today cooperation between the Kazan University and Xinjiang University is adjusted.Interaction began thanks to the visit of the delegation of Chinese university where a well-known scientist lichenologist Professor A. Abbasov was included to the Kazan University in 2002.Thanks to his initiative biologists of the Kazan and Chinese universities cooperate in area of an exchange of scientific knowledge, participations in conferences and publications.In April, 2010 cooperation agreements between College of sciences about life and technologies of Xinjiang University and Institute of Fundamental Medicine and Biology of KFU (earlier Biology-Soil Faculty) were signed.Taking into account the available cooperation on a number of the directions now by the international services of two higher education institutions prepared the draft of the interuniversity agreement.The question of sending masters and graduate students of the Institute of Fundamental Medicine and Biology of KFU on training to Xinjiang University in 2014/2015 academic year at the expense of Kazan Federal University is studied.Within the official visit of delegation of the Republic of Tatarstan headed by the President of RT R.N. Minnikhanov the Cooperation agreement between KFU and Xinjiang University was signed on April 15, 2014.Scientists of Kazan Federal University are collaborating with Chinese colleagues from the Shanghai astronomical observatory (astronomy), Nankai University, Tianjin (ecology), Jinan University (theoretical physics, history), Sichuan University (biomedicine), Wuhan University (advanced materials), Lanzhou University (physics), University of nature and the intellectual technologies of Academy of Sciences of China (algebra), Institute of Communications Shiqiaoguan (radiophysics).