INRTU and ZISU Team Up for Siberia Research

From July 5 to 13, researchers from INRTU took part in the Summer Research School at Zhejiang International Studies University (ZISU) in Hangzhou, China. Together with Professor Chen Xi, they discussed a joint Russian-Chinese project on the future development of Siberia.

The annual school brings together students and young researchers from ZISU and partner universities in the UAE, Kazakhstan, Malaysia and other countries. Participants explore cooperation between China and neighboring nations.

INRTU and ZISU have already signed a cooperation memorandum and an agreement to create a joint research platform.

Irina Biankina, Head of the INRTU Baikal Technology Transfer Center and a postgraduate student, said the project will create opportunities for joint publications, grant applications, student exchanges and research projects. 

One of the main events of the visit was a lecture by Alexey Levashev, Head of the Transport Laboratory and Associate Professor of the Department of Road Transport at INRTU. In his presentation, Siberia Between Transit and Development, he spoke about how changes in global transport routes could affect the region. He also highlighted the need to process natural resources locally, develop technologies for northern cities and improve tourism around Lake Baikal.

At the end of the program, Alexey Levashev was appointed Adjunct Professor at ZISU’s School of European Languages and Cultures for 2026–2029.

“We showed that Siberia can be more than a transit region. It can also become a place for joint growth and development. Chinese colleagues are interested in transport corridors through the Irkutsk Region, which could bring new opportunities for the area. Professor Chen Xi knows Eastern Siberia well and is actively involved in our cooperation. The next step is joint research and fieldwork in Irkutsk,”

Alexey Levashev said.

A group of ZISU professors and student researchers will arrive in Irkutsk on July 20. Together with INRTU colleagues, they will work until August 16 on ways to attract investment and strengthen Eastern Siberia’s role as a transport link between Russia and China.

“I was impressed by the way our Chinese colleagues combine economics, geography and history in their research. We look forward to welcoming the delegation to Irkutsk and helping them learn more about Eastern Siberia and the value of this project,”

said Ilia Kruchinin, Senior Lecturer and Deputy Director for Foreign Affairs at the Baikal School of BRICS.