The meeting took place as part of the "Dialogue on the Volga: Peace and Mutual Understanding in the 21st Century" International Forum of People's Diplomacy, an annual event in the city timed to coincide with World Cities Day.

The primary objective of the round table was to strengthen direct humanitarian ties between Volgograd and its sister-cities in the People's Republic of China through the study, preservation, and promotion of historical and patriotic heritage.

Word to Guests and Organizers

The significance of the topic was addressed by Zhanna Budarina, Director of the Confucius Institute at VSSPU and a member of the Volgograd branch of the Russia-China Friendship Society, as well as Olga Bondar, Head of the Tourism Regulation Division within Volgograd Regional Committee for Economic Policy and Development.

Sergey Paramonov, Executive Vice-President of the International Association "Sister Cities," sent a video greeting from Moscow:

"Cooperation between Russian and Chinese cities plays a vital role in the broader partnership between our two nations. Direct municipal ties facilitate cultural and educational exchanges, expand tourism-related contacts, and allow residents to learn about each other's history and contemporary life. Volgograd and its Chinese sister cities—Chengdu, Jilin, and Qujing—demonstrate how such engagement can be filled with substantive, concrete content."

He also noted that the meeting brings together representatives from cities and museums, educators, and young people, all united by a common goal: preserving historical memory and passing it on to new generations.

Chengdu, Qujing, Jilin and Volgograd: Friendship Across Mountains and Rivers

All three of Volgograd's Chinese sister cities prepared video presentations of their respective cities for the round table. One of the key speakers was Mr. Zhou Zhou, Head of the Foreign Affairs Office of Qujing Municipal People's Government.

He spoke in detail about the "red" (revolutionary) heritage of Yunnan Province—including sites associated with the Long March and memorials dedicated to the War of Resistance Against Japanese Aggression—as well as Qujing's tourism corridors, ranging from the "search for roots at the source of the Pearl River" (Zhujiang) to the "red earth" region, which preserves the memory of battles fought in the Wumeng Mountains.

"Although we are separated by mountains and seas, friendship knows no borders; our cultural traditions are closely aligned, and the future is full of promise. Moving forward, Qujing will continue to use culture as a medium, young people as a bridge, and cultural tourism as a connecting link. Together with Volgograd, we will move forward and deepen our cooperation," he remarked.

Hands-on Cultural Experience

The event was made all the more special by workshops led by instructors from the Confucius Institute at the Volgograd State Pedagogical University (VSPU). Guests explored stencil painting and traditional Guohua (Chinese ink wash painting), and even tried their hand at writing their own names using Chinese characters. These activities served as a vivid illustration of how cultural exchange begins with personal experience and emotional engagement.

The audience included pupils from Volgograd's municipal schools, students from the School of International Relations and Diplomacy at the Volgograd Youth Center, and VSSPU students—including those from the People's Republic of China.