This Russian-born Chinese woman personifies the SCO spirit

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“Are you more Russian or are you more Chinese?”

This is the kind of question Victoria Khu often gets asked due to her unique identity of being a Russian-born Chinese.

“When I am with Russians, they definitely consider me more as Russian. [But] When I am with Chinese friends, it's also very natural for them to treat me as Chinese. So when people ask me questions about my identity, I would say I'm Russian and Chinese as I share both the identities,” the 24-year-old co-founder and chief curator of SCO Countries Youth League told CGTN digital.

Victoria Khu was born in Irkutsk city of Russia's Siberia. She arrived in China at the age of 17 in September 2012. /Photo via Victoria Khu

Her dual identity is precisely what makes Khu, popularly known as Vika, a perfect young ambassador for the Shanghai Cooperation Organization (SCO) – a multilateral grouping of Eurasian countries with both China and Russia among its founding members and Russian and Chinese being the official languages of the organization.

Born in Irkutsk city of Siberia, Vika ably represents both, her country of birth – Russia – and that of her ancestors – China.

After finishing her high school in Russia, Vika arrived in China at the age of 17 in September 2012. While her family remains in Russia, Vika has made China her home and has many relatives in the cities of Harbin, Chongqing and the southwestern Sichuan Province.

Victoria Khu feels China is the glue that keeps the young members of SCO countries together. /Photo via Victoria Khu

Making use of her distinctive background, Vika co-founded the SCO Countries Youth League along with a few friends in April 2017, which has drawn over 200 students, young professionals and entrepreneurs in its fold so far.

Currently pursuing a master’s program in journalism at Beijing’s Tsinghua University, she feels China is the glue that keeps the SCO family together.

“China has played an important role for the SCO Countries Youth League specifically because we started in Beijing. We are all united because we have a common interest to work together or work with China, in China, [and] learn Chinese. So China is the glue for all our countries,” she said.

'Building bridges of friendship'

Victoria Khu (front, center right) with other members of the SCO Countries Youth League at an event in December 2017. /Photo via Victoria Khu

Vika admitted that the founding of the youth league has been a life-changing experience for her. “The SCO Countries Youth League for sure has had, and is still having, a very big impact on me personally,” she said.

“We are affiliated with the SCO Secretariat and we take part in a lot of their events. We’ve been really lucky to have active support from the SCO Secretary-General Rashid Alimov. In fact, he has given the members of the youth league a new name – Generation SCO,” she said.

Vika professed a strong faith in the Shanghai Spirit – the founding principles of the SCO – which comprises universal values such as mutual trust, mutual benefit, equality, consultation, respect for cultural diversity, and pursuit of common development.

Victoria Khu with Russian Ambassador to China Andrey Denisov (right) during a SCO Countries Youth League "discussion club" event in Beijing in March 2018. /Photo via SCO Countries Youth League

True to the values of the Shanghai Spirit, the young leader said she is passionate about building bridges of friendship among students and young professionals.

“I am still learning how to cooperate and to create a community that engages with people from very different subjects, cultures, ages and interests and how all of us can cooperate together,” she said.

Diversity, trust and passion

Emphasizing the diversity of the young members of the league, Vika stressed that their different backgrounds are what make them relate to each other better.

“None of the SCO members have just a single and very simple background. I think what we bring together [are] people with various backgrounds. We can just create together something very meaningful,” she said.

Victoria Khu (fifth from left) professes a strong faith in the Shanghai Spirit – the founding principles of the SCO – which comprises universal values such as mutual trust, mutual benefit, equality, consultation, respect for cultural diversity, and pursuit of common development. /Photo via Victoria Khu

Vika is currently focused on expanding the league to all the SCO countries. “The first step for us will be to expand and create more hubs for more people to cooperate between countries, between cities,” she said.

“Personal trust is something that we believe is the core of the cooperation between countries. And in the future, if we are friends in all the 18 countries, then I am sure it will shape the agenda,” added Vika, who envisions the youth league as an incubator for young leaders.

The youth league has certainly provided a direction to Vika’s life and she’s confident it will do so for other members as well. “I believe this is a platform where you can not only realize your potential but also discover your passion and create your future career out of that,” she concluded.

Cameraperson & Video Editor: Geng Zhibin

Reporter & Director: Abhishek G Bhaya

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