This trip is included in the program of the visit of the delegation of the Republic of Tatarstan to Shandong Province of the People's Republic of China. The delegation is headed by Rustam Minnikhanov, Rais (Head) of the Republic of Tatarstan.

The work at the forum on cooperation in the field of education between Shandong Province and the Republic of Tatarstan, which is being held as part of the establishment of the Russian-Chinese University of Advanced Technologies, represents a large-scale step in the development of constructive international projects of KIU. The project involves 11 leading universities of Tatarstan and 14 universities of Shandong Province. Shandong Province ranks second in population (101 million people) and third in economic size among all regions of China.

Cooperation between the Republic of Tatarstan and Shandong Province opens up enormous potential for synergy, bringing together the powerful research and educational cluster of the Russian region and the colossal economic and demographic resources of Shandong, and marks the expansion of academic contacts between Russia and China. Joint work will enable KIU and other leading universities to launch cutting-edge research projects that respond to the challenges of modern society.

"The establishment between our regions of the Russian-Chinese University of Advanced Technologies, CRUTech, is a unique initiative included in the program of the Years of Russian-Chinese Cooperation in the Field of Education," noted Rustam Minnikhanov, Rais (Head) of the Republic of Tatarstan, during his speech at the forum. He emphasised that he regards this joint project not merely as an educational one, but above all as a foundation for strengthening the technological leadership of the two countries. Shandong was the first province with which Tatarstan signed a cooperation agreement back in 2008. Since then, the republic has established strong relations with a number of Chinese industrial companies. Rustam Minnikhanov spoke about the upcoming forum of technical universities of Russia and China, which will be held in Kazan in November 2026, and invited the universities of Shandong Province to visit Tatarstan. This forum will give new momentum to the development of academic ties and turn individual initiatives into a sustainable system of partnership.