For Daniyar’s young pupils in Harbin, northeast China, her Russian folk dance class is a highlight of their day. Getting this close to a foreigner is quite unusual for them, and they enjoy the exotic, novel exercise.

Harbin pupils enjoy a Russian folk dance class /CGTN Photo

Daniyar is a 22-year-old Russian student at Harbin Institute of Technology (HIT), and through a volunteer teaching program drawing from the university, she has found her career path.

Through a volunteer teaching program, 22 year-old Daniyar, a Russian student, has found her career path and she wants to stay in China after graduation. /CGTN Photo

Since the Belt and Road Initiative was initiated in 2013, HIT – one of China’s top universities – has seen a 10-percent increase in the number of foreign students each year. Many of them feel that the education they receive in China could prove to be an invaluable asset in the future.

The Harbin Institute of Technology has witnessed big increases in the number of foreign students since the Belt and Road initiative was introduced in 2013. /CGTN Photo

“I haven’t graduated yet but there are already job offers lined up for me. One position at the China Railway Construction Corporation is very attractive to me, since they need people who are familiar with China to work on the extension of the trans-Mongolian railway,” said Han Yu, a HIT doctoral student from Mongolia.

Han Yu, a doctoral student from Mongolia, has already secured a job offer at one of the Belt and Road projects. /CGTN Photo

Nastar, a Russian undergraduate at the university, thinks many Russian companies are shifting their focus to China because of the growing tension between Europe and Russia. He is eyeing opportunities in this northeastern corner of China as a result.

An important element of the China-Russia-Mongolia economic corridor, beyond the political and economic dimensions, has been the promotion of cultural and educational exchanges. Five to 10 years ago, we would never have seen so many foreign students in China’s northeast as now.

With connectivity playing such a key role in the Belt and Road Initiative, these exchanges could be crucial for peaceful and prosperous relations in the regional community.