The delegation of North-Eastern Federal University took part in the First Meeting of the Executive Committee of the Association of Universities of the Far East and Siberia of the Russian Federation and the North-Eastern Regions of China (AURAC) of the Second Session, which was held on April 12 in Heilongjiang University, China.

The representatives of the universities of Russia and China discussed the future structure of AURAC Executive Committee, approved a work plan of the Association for 2018, discussed the development of cooperation and exchanges in higher education between countries, possible models for innovative cooperation and exchanges, legalization and evaluation of higher education in the two countries.

NEFU was represented by the Vice Rector on Natural Sciences and Mathematics Anatoly Nikolaev and the leading specialist of the Institute of the East of NEFU International Relations Office Oksana Yakovleva. During the meeting, Anatoly Nikolaev made a presentation on the research activities of the university on the Arctic and a report on the work undertaken within the frameworks of the AURAC. "NEFU is ready to supervise the joint scientific research of the members of the Association in the Arctic zone of the Northeast of Eurasia. As a result of the meeting, the plan of AURAC events will be approved for the current year in the online conference mode on May 15, 2018 ", said the Vice Rector of the federal university.

In addition, as part of the trip, NEFU delegation met with representatives of the Hydraulic Engineering Institute of Heilongjiang University: Professor Dai Changlei and his graduate students, as well as with the Deputy Director of the Center for the Study of Russia at Heilongjiang University, Professor Jiang Zhengjun. The parties discussed the expansion of scientific and technical cooperation for the development of Arctic research in two universities, the creation of a joint platform for exploring the transport potential of the Northern Sea Route and the Ice Silk Road, the water resources of the cold regions, and joint training.

Four universities of the Far East and Siberia of the Russian Federation, six universities of the North-Eastern regions of the People's Republic of China and a representative of the Consulate General of the Russian Federation in Shenyang (China) attended the meeting.