From November 23 to 25, a Prof. Tao-led group visited the Imperial Academy of Arts in St. Petersburg and the St. Petersburg Art Association. Prof. Tao Yitao is director of the China Center for Special Economic Zone Research (CCSEZR), Shenzhen University (SZU), a key research base of humanities and social science under the Ministry of Education, dean of the Belt and Road Research Institute of Shenzhen University and also dean of the Belt and Road Research Institute (Shenzhen) for International Cooperation and Development (BRRIICD). The group had a friendly talk with President Simon Mikhailov and Vice President Andrei Sguchalenko of the Imperial Academy of Arts, Grishin Alexander, professor of the Imperial Academy of Arts and head of the summer school, and Andre Bazanov, chairman of the Russian Artist Association. Among the group were Associate Professor Li Fan, director assistant of the CCSEZR, Li Zhuangzhi, secretary-general of the Belt and Road Artist Alliance and associate professor of the Department of Fine Arts of Normal College, Shenzhen University, and Andrei Petunin, an international doctoral student of the CCSEZR.
Director Tao Yitao was warmly welcomed by President Simon, Vice President Andrei, Admission Officer Arsen Kurbanov and other teachers of the Imperial Academy of Arts. The Imperial Academy of Arts is one of the world's four major art academies and is also the top educational institution for art education in Russia, which has produced many world-renowned artists. Under the framework of the Belt and Road Initiative (BRI), the two sides conducted in-depth discussions on how to build an innovative cooperation model and strengthen policy coordination, connectivity of infrastructure, unimpeded trade, financial integration and closer people-to-people ties (five-pronged approach) through the art and culture exchanges between China and Russia. Director Tao Yitao first introduced to President Simon the work progress of the One Belt and One Road Artist Alliance under the Belt and Road Research Institute of Shenzhen University and the BRRIICD and then invited the artists and professors of the Imperial Academy of Arts to continue to participate in and support various art exchange activities of the Belt and Road Artist Alliance. The two sides also exchanged views on cooperation, academic exchanges and exchanges of international students in the field of art between China and Russia under the framework of the "Belt and Road Artist Alliance". President Simon actively responded to the cooperation matters.
After the talk, Director Tao Yitao presented the introduction materials of the BRRIICD and souvenirs to President Simon, who also presented the works and albums by artists of the Imperial Academy of Arts to Director Tao Yitao. The talk was concluded amid a pleasant atmosphere.
Director Tao-led group also visited the Russian Artist Association and had a talk with President Andrei Bazanov and Vice President Grishin Alexander on the exchanges between Chinese and Russian artists. The two sides agreed that the communication and experience learning on art and culture will further strengthen the friendly exchanges between the Chinese and Russian people and enhance mutual understanding and traditional friendship between China and Russia. Prof. Tao Yitao first thanked President Andre for taking a special trip to attend the opening ceremony of the "Belt and One Road Artist Alliance" a year ago and expressed her sincere gratitude towards the Russian Artist Association for its support to the "Belt and One Road Artist Alliance". Prof. Tao Yitao and President Andrei also discussed specific cooperation plans on jointly holding exhibitions of art works in the future to promote China's traditional art to go global and bring in Russia's culture and art to China.
