The number of exchange students between China and Russia has reached 85,000, said the Russian minister of Science and Higher Education at a press conference on Monday.

Mikhail Kotyukov, Russian minister of Science and Higher Education, attends a panel session at the St. Petersburg International Economic Forum, May 24, 2018 (Photo: VCG)

The number includes exchange students who are enrolled in long-term programs and short-term courses.

In the former category, "there are more than 30,000 Chinese students studying in Russia, and 20,000 Russian students studying in China currently," said Mikhail Kotyukov.

The official said Russia will further learn from the experience of Chinese universities to improve the international competitiveness of its universities, especially in nurturing high-tech talents.

Chinese language is for the first time a selective test subject in the ongoing Russian college entrance exam.

The move is a result of deepening Sino-Russian political, economic and trade cooperation and exchanges in various fields and a years-long "Chinese fever" in Russia, he said.

According to China Daily, the number of Russians learning Chinese has grown fast in the past years. In 1997, there were about 5,000 Russians studying Chinese. The number reached 17,000 in 2007 and further grew to exceed 56,000 in 2017.