An International Science-to-Practice Conference on “Linguistic and Cultural Interaction of the Countries of the One Belt, One Road Initiative” is held April 4 through April 6, 2025.
South Ural State University, South Kazakhstan Pedagogical University named after Ozbekali Zhanibekov and the Institute of Foreign Languages of Henan Normal University (Xinxiang, China) became parallel venues for it.
The conference opened with greetings from the Dean of the Institute of Foreign Languages of Henan Normal University Liu Guobing and Director of the SUSU Institute of Linguistics and International Communications Elena Yaroslavova.
The scientific event brought together both in person and online more than 200 participants from Russia, China, Kazakhstan, the Republic of Belarus, and the Philippines.
Keynote speeches were delivered by: from SUSU - Elena Yaroslavova, Director of Institute of Linguistics and International Communications (On Innovative Competence of Teachers in the Conditions of Digital Transformation), Professor Elena Kharchenko (On Problems of Understanding in Intercultural Communication), and senior lecturer Yin Zixuan; from Zhejiang University of Foreign Languages - Professors Wang Songting (On Regional Studies) and Ma Weihong (On Pushkin's Fairy Tales); from South Kazakhstan Pedagogical University - Professor Nataliшa Dmitriuk (On Russian Linguistic Personality in Russia and Kazakhstan).
“I would like to note the highest level of preparation and professionalism of all speakers. Each speaker presented a unique perspective on important topics that relate not only to linguistics, but also to cultural aspects that influence our interaction. The conference was held in an atmosphere of cooperation and mutual understanding among the participants. The discussions were rich and productive, we all strive for the same goal: to deepen knowledge and strengthen ties between our countries. This is a great opportunity to exchange experience and establish new contacts. I am sure that the results of our communication will contribute to further development of scientific research and educational programmes. We are looking forward to the next meetings and joint projects!” said Elena Yaroslavova, Director of the SUSU Institute of Linguistics and International Communications.
The differences in linguistic worldviews and concepts in Russian and Chinese linguocultures, as well as the linguocultural image of China in Russian social networks and messengers were discussed at the conference.
“Such a conference, which unites three universities, is being held for the first time,” said the Secretary of one of the sections, senior lecturer of the SUSU Department of Russian as a Foreign Language Irina Chunosova. “Of course, it will contribute to the emergence of new scientific ties and strengthening of the existing ones. Those who previously studied at SUSU, including in graduate school, also participate; they do not lose ties with the university even after defending their theses.”
At SUSU, the conference was held in several sections, including in the formats of expert and youth sessions, in which students from South Ural State University, Lomonosov Moscow State University, Russian State University for the Humanities, as well as from universities of Nizhny Novgorod, Ivanovo, Samara, and Lugansk were actively involved.
“We invited translation specialists, practitioners and theorists, to speak at the expert session,” said Associate Professor of the SUSU Department of Linguistics and Translation Olga Tolstykh. “We discussed the topics of machine translation and the use of artificial intelligence, polycode text, and also talked about new competencies of a translator, who today must not only have professional qualities, but also be a real expert.”
The results of the conference are planned to be published in scientific editions indexed in the Russian Science Citation Index.