Bronislav Vinogrodsky was born on the Kamchatka Peninsula, and China got to him early. Decades later, the Russian sinologist has translated and published more than 20 works of Chinese cultural heritage and written over 30 studies.

When he first came to China in the late 1980s, what struck him was the pace – the country moving fast, and building everywhere he looked.

He believes the Chinese have forged their own path and created the conditions for people to create. And he thinks that China and Russia have some of the best prospects for cooperation in the world – and that the two peoples need to be closer.