Chinese and Russian students are communicating at a Sino-Russian youth summit

On November 17, 2017, Chinese students at Moscow University wrote to President Xi Jinping, expressing their determination to pursue progress and serve their country. A month later on December 30, Xi wrote back, encouraging them to be devoted to their country and work hard for their dreams.

"A nation will prosper only when its young people thrive; a country will be full of hope and have a great tomorrow only when its younger generations have ideals, ability and a strong sense of responsibility. The realization of the Chinese dream of national rejuvenation needs endeavors of young people, generation by generation," Xi said.

Great era calls for great achievements

For Chinese students studying in Russia, 2017 was a special year, as it was the 60th anniversary of Mao Zedong's famous speech "Our hope is placed on you" delivered at Moscow University. It was also the year China held the 19th CPC National Congress and the 100th anniversary of the October Revolution.

Lu Sentong, a doctor of law at Moscow University, and former president of the Chinese Students Association in Russia (CSAR), was a co-author of the letter.

"We have long wanted to write such a letter to express our pride for an increasingly strong motherland as well as the aspiration of Chinese students to serve the country after studying overseas," he said.

“In 1957, Mao Zedong met Chinese students in Russia at Moscow University, saying that ‘The young people are like the sun at eight or nine in the morning. Our hope is placed on you.’ Sixty years later, President Xi wrote to the youth, ‘The realization of the Chinese dream of national rejuvenation needs the endeavors of young people, generation by generation,’” said Yu Bingle, one of the heads of the Federation of Chinese Students and Scholars at Moscow University (FCSSMU).

“Time is changing, but the motherland's expectations for us have not changed, neither will the striving of youth change. The great era calls for great achievements of the younger generation.”

“Grasp firmly the baton of striving in our hands”

Over the past year, with the help and guidance of the Chinese Embassy in Russia, the Chinese Students Association in Russia has carried out a series of activities in response to the letter from Xi, including organizing Chinese students in Russia to visiting historical sites related to the two countries’ relations and holding seminars on entrepreneurship.

Their WeChat official account has been revised to produce a series of themed columns explaining the spirit of the answering letter and telling stories of several predecessors studying in Russia, so as to help millennials study hard to serve the country.

They founded the "New Media Center of the Communist Youth League of Moscow University,” made micro-documentaries, and told Chinese stories on Russian websites.

"Moscow University trained many outstanding talented people for China. Today, we should follow our predecessors and grasp firmly the baton of striving in our hands, so that the glorious tradition of studying abroad to serve our country will be passed on from generation to generation," said Chen Hanzhi, newly elected president of the CSAR in April.

"Resonate personal career with national development"

Xi’s encouragement for young students not only pointed out the course of life for overseas students, but also influenced and changed their career choices.

Gao Muyang, a graduate majoring in digital economic relations at Moscow University, has applied for an internship at the Russian Asian Union of Industrialists and Entrepreneurs earlier this year. "I am happy to make contributions to the Sino-Russian business using my professional expertise."

Mei Yuhan is from a diplomat family. At the age of 14, she won the National Russian Talent Competition. Last year, she applied to study Ecology and Resource Utilization at Moscow University, becoming one of the few Chinese students studying there.

"President Xi's great expectations for the younger generation have helped me clear my life direction. Personal dreams are meaningful only when they are integrated into the Chinese dream of the national rejuvenation," she said. “Making a personal career resonate with national development can maximize our self-worth.”

"Russia has many advanced ideas in soil management that we can learn from. After finishing my studies, I will go back to China to serve China’s ecological and green development,” Mei said.

Zhang Xinliang, a clinical major junior at IM Sechenov First Moscow State Medical University, is working hard for his "medical dream”. In his spare time, he also undertakes volunteer work, like answering questions and providing medical consulting services for Chinese compatriots in Russia through various channels including phone calls, WeChat and QQ groups.

"I am proud to be able to help my fellow citizens out there. President Xi's letter gave me great encouragement and made me find my value," he said.

Their words have resonated with numerous students’ hearts — be no traveler, be no spectator, but be a passionate striver, and a contributor to the construction of the motherland.

(Compiled by Yu Lidong)