Personal relationship between the two heads of states has facilitated stronger ties between the two nations. At the beginning of this year, China and Russia declared 2018 the year of regional cooperation. One highlighted program is a cooperation mechanism between areas along the Yangtze River in China and the Volga River in Russia. CGTN reporter Meng Qingsheng takes us to Sichuan Province in southwestern China, where cultural and people-to-people exchanges with Russia, continue to benefit many.

At West China Hospital of Sichuan University, a surgery for colon cancer is underway. Doctoral candidate Danil Galiullin has joined the operation team to enhance his clinical skills. 

DANIL GALIULLIN, DOCTORAL CANDIDATE SICHUAN UNIVERSITY "My workday I spent in the laboratory, preparing and doing some experiments. When I am free from my laboratory work, I try to attend hospital work, and learn clinical experience from my professors, from my teachers."

The 26-year old Russian student came to Sichuan University in 2017, after earning his master's degree in Russia. It's part of an exchange program by the "Yangtze-Volga" cooperation mechanism.

DANIL GALIULLIN, DOCTORAL CANDIDATE SICHUAN UNIVERSITY "What I like about Sichuan University, West China School of Medicine is that it organises for us conferences with Chinese famous professors, and also with foreign professors. We can get a lot of knowledge and experience on the international level."

The school is now spearheading the program after launching the "Yangtze-Volga" University Alliance in October, 2017. The organization involves over 60 universities in China and Russia.

LI ZHIQIANG, DEPUTY SECRETARY GENERAL "YANGTZE-VOLGA" UNIVERSITY ALLIANCE SECRETARIAT "Sichuan University has conducted several exchange programs with our Russian counterparts. We offer the Belt and Road Initiative Scholarship to students who want to study here. Russia is a crucial stop along the Belt and Road. With the University Alliance in place, we would promote more exchanges."

MENG QINGSHENG CHENGDU, SICHUAN "The Yangtze-Volga cooperation mechanism was launched in 2013. It includes six regions along the upper and middle reaches of the Yangtze River in China, and the 14 federal provinces along the Volga River in Russia. As one of the pioneers, Sichuan Province in southwestern China has worked out solutions to cement closer trade relations with Russia, and promote more people-to-people exchanges."

Sichuan is currently operating an express railway system linking its capital city Chengdu with Europe, including Russia. Along with direct flights to major Russian cities, the province is poised to create more interactions.

PANG GUANGLONG, DIRECTOR OF EURASIAN AFFAIRS SICHUAN DEPT. OF FOREIGN & OVERSEAS CHINESE AFFAIRS "We attach equal importance to economy and trade relations with cultural and people-to-people exchanges. The exchange program has yielded great outcomes in areas like education, tourism, culture, training and youth. We have made enormous progress in this regard."

Danil is among the more than 40 Russian students who have benefited from the "Yangtze-Volga" mechanism in Sichuan Province. He has decided to return home after finishing his study in 2020.

DANIL GALIULLIN, DOCTORAL CANDIDATE SICHUAN UNIVERSITY "What's more important to me is to continue the relationship between China and Russia in the medical field. That's much closer to me."

For most of the students, their stay in China will etch an everlasting legacy in Sino-Russian friendship. Meng Qingsheng, CGTN, Chengdu, Sichuan Province.