Arctic Studies Exchange between Chinese and Russian Universities (by the example of North-Eastern Federal University of Russia and Chinese Heilongjiang University)

The Arctic is a unique region. It has recently attracted attention of the North Pacific countries. Its growing economy, transport, logistics and economic potential have formed a solid basis for the international cooperation. Scientists and experts from all over the world are studying the extensive natural potential of the ocean and seabed, as well as the possibility of using the route across the Arctic Ocean. In June 2019, during the visit of Chinese President Xi Jinping to Russia, both leaders of the countries, Vladimir Putin and Xi Jinping, announced 2020 and 2021 as the Years of Chinese-Russian Innovation in Science and Technology with the main topic of Science and Innovation in Technology. Having friendly relationship and political support between the two countries, North-Eastern Federal University of Russia and Heilongjiang University of China had a fruitful exchange in the field of scientific studies. During these activities, good cooperation results have been achieved.


Introduction
China and Russia are influential global players and counties with very high technological expertise. Besides, they are each other's largest neighbors. The most promising cooperation fields between Russia and China are technological innovation. In June 2019, the two Heads, Russian President Vladimir Putin and Chinese President Xi Jinping, met in Moscow where they signed a Joint Statement of the People's Republic of China and the Russian Federation on the Development of Comprehensive Strategic Partnership for Collaboration in the new Era, according to which 2020-2021 were declared the Years of Russian-Chinese scientific, technical and innovative cooperation. Events in the field of science and technology cooperation are rich in content, including projects such as research, exhibitions and academic exchanges. A number of important results have been achieved that have a wide range of impacts. At the same time, they also promote scientific and technical cooperation and exchanges between China and Russia in the Arctic.

1 North-Eastern Federal University
North-Eastern Federal University (NEFU) (Figure 1.) is one of ten federal universities of the Russian Federation and the largest universal university in the northeastern region of Russia. It is located in Yakutsk, the capital of the Sakha Republic. Previously it was Yakutsk State University; the national university has a long history. The development of international cooperation is one of the key tasks of the North-Eastern Federal University. The university has established many partnerships in international cooperation, signed a number of international agreements and is actively promoting academic exchanges and research programs. The unique geographic location bordering the Arctic region prompted the establishment of the Arctic Innovation Research Center, which formed a good basis for current and future Arctic research.

Heilongjiang University
Heilongjiang University is located in Harbin, which is one of the northernmost cities in China close to the border with Russia. (Figure 2.)

Figure 2. Heilongjiang University
The University is home to many key research bases of the Ministry of Education of China in the field of human and social sciences: Center for the Study of Russian Language, Literature and Culture; Research Center for Chinese-Russian Humanity Exchange at Heilongjiang University; Chinese-Russian Center for Comprehensive Strategic Cooperation; Provincial Center for Joint Innovation; One Belt One Road National and Regional Research Centers; Heilongjiang University National Language Promotion Base, and other research organizations.
Heilongjiang University pays great attention to the implementation of the international development strategy, adheres to bilateral international cooperation and exchange of principles of engagement and graduation, paying particular attention to the characteristics of higher educational institutions in Russia. A comprehensive and multi-level platform was developed to promote international exchange and cooperation. At present, Heilongjiang University has established close cooperation relations with more than 70 universities from 23 countries.

Cooperation Projects
Cooperation agreement between North-Eastern Federal University named after M.K. Ammosov (NEFU) and Heilongjiang University in the field of aquatic ecology, engineering and environment (2015); Special agreement on cooperation between Chinese University of Heilongjiang and North-Eastern Federal University of Russia in the field of Water ecology | Engineering | Environment (2019) [1][2] (Figure 3); One Belt One Road and Ice Great Silk Road is a land river connecting water resources | environment | environmental issues, talent exchange and cooperation in the field of innovative research (2020) [3] ; One Belt One Road to the Ice Silk Road, Northeast | Hydrology of the Cold Region of Asia | Climate and ecology | Ecological combination of innovative research | Talent exchange and collaboration (2021); Study of relationship between hydrological, climatic and environmental factors on the eastern route of inland rivers in the framework of the One Belt One Road and Ice Silk Road projects (in the application).

International Conference
Co-organizer of the 12th symposium Water Resources in Cold Regions and Their Sustainable Use [4] (Figure 4

Exchange of fellows (collaborative learning)
In 2016, Zhang Xiaohong, studying the topic Possibility of Combined Transport from the Port of Dalian to the Arctic Ocean in Tiksi, was sent to North-Eastern Federal University under the Master's Academic Exchange Project. She took Russian language exam. In 2018, she became a PhD student at North-Eastern Federal University. Her scientific adviser was Anatoly Nikolaev (Figure 7).
In 2019, Yu Miao, master's degree holder from Heilongjiang University, within the framework of the project Study and Analysis of Laws of Ice Formation during Groundwater Overflow in the Alpine Regions Using the Example of Buluus Bestyakh in Siberia was sent to the North-Eastern Federal University. After that, he continued as a postgraduate student at North-Eastern Federal University of Russia with his education free of charge (Figure 7).

Conclusion
The cooperation in the fields of research and engineering between the two universities as well as scientific exchange on Arctic-related issues not only strengthened joint research between universities and scientists, but also reflected the regional importance of cooperation. China and Russia should expand cooperation in the field of scientific and technological innovation, play the role of joint laboratories and research centers, promote a two-way exchange of talented people and develop comprehensive strategic partnership and cooperation between China and Russia.