ZISU Delegation Visits INRTU to Strengthen Research and Education Cooperation
A delegation from Zhejiang International Studies University (ZISU) visited INRTU as part of the next stage of cooperation between the two universities. The partnership began during a summer research school in Hangzhou. The two sides discussed joint research on the development of Eastern Siberia, including its potential as a transport corridor between Russia and China.
In July, INRTU staff took part in a ZISU summer research school in Hangzhou. Together with Professor Chen Xi, they discussed a joint Russian-Chinese research project on Eastern Siberia. The universities signed a cooperation memorandum and an agreement to create a joint research platform. The ZISU delegation then visited INRTU in August.
Anna Melenteva, Head of the International Affairs Department at INRTU, said that the new platform will create many opportunities for cooperation. The universities plan to prepare joint research papers and grant applications, conduct field studies, and develop academic exchange and student projects. INRTU is also ready to provide its laboratories and expertise in smart manufacturing, aircraft engineering and mineral processing.
ZISU Professor Chen Xi presented a method for studying infrastructure that connects East and West. Major Asian research centers, including Tsinghua University and the Chinese Academy of Sciences, are already involved. The partners also plan to launch a joint program in Hangzhou, with universities from Kazakhstan, Armenia and Malaysia showing interest. INRTU has been invited to joint this international network and share its expertise on cooperation in Eastern Siberia.
INRTU Associate Professor and Technical Director of the Transport Laboratory Alexey Levashev continue the research discussion. The experts looked at transport links in Siberia, the region’s history and changes in land use. The future study will focus not only on Easter Siberia’s transit potential, but also on its wider development, including tourism, urban spaces and transport.
The partners have already planned their work for 2027-2028. The research will cover regional development, transport and infrastructure links between Eastern Siberia and China, as well as tourism. The results may form the basis for a joint analytical report and GIS platform.
As part of the project, ZISU representative also met with the Irkutsk Region authorities. They discussed how the research could benefit the region and how its results could be used in practice. The meetings also focused on data about the transport network, infrastructure and tourism projects needed for further research and the future GIS platform.
INRTU thanks the Irkutsk Region Ministry of Economic Development and Industry, the Irkutsk Region Ministry of Transport and Roads, and the Irkutsk Region Tourism Agency for helping organize the meetings and supporting open professional dialogue and international research cooperation.
