Visit of the Karazin University Delegation at the Invitation of the Extraordinary and Plenipotentiary Ambassador of the People's Republic of China to Ukraine, Ma Shengkun

On January 17, 2025, the Chinese Embassy in Ukraine hosted a formal reception at the InterContinental Hotel in Kyiv to celebrate the 2025 Spring Festival and to mark the inauguration of Mr. Ma Shengkun as the Extraordinary and Plenipotentiary Ambassador of the People's Republic of China to Ukraine.

The event was attended by the Rector of V. N. Karazin Kharkiv National University, Tetyana Kaganovska, Vice-Rectors Zarif Nazirov and Anatolii Babichev, as well as the Director of the Confucius Institute, Tetyana Chelombitko.

Mr. Ma Shengkun, the newly appointed Ambassador of China to Ukraine, has extensive experience in diplomacy. He has previously served in Vienna and Geneva, and in 2019, he held the position of Deputy Director of the Department of Arms Control at China’s Ministry of Foreign Affairs.

The reception began with the national anthems of China and Ukraine. In her address to the diplomats, Rector Tetyana Kaganovska extended her greetings to the Chinese people on the New Year and congratulated Mr. Ma Shengkun on the start of his diplomatic mission in Ukraine. She highlighted the positive momentum in Ukrainian-Chinese dialogue this year and emphasized the importance of strengthening bilateral academic relations with educational and scientific institutions in China. The Rector underscored that enhancing cooperation in education and science will contribute to the development of both countries.

During the event, meetings were also held with the Extraordinary and Plenipotentiary Ambassador of the Arab Republic of Egypt to Ukraine, Mr. Barakat El-Laithi, and the Extraordinary and Plenipotentiary Ambassador of the Republic of Uzbekistan to Ukraine, Mr. Alisher Kurmanov. The discussions focused on prospects for international cooperation in the fields of education, science, and culture. Special attention was given to the need for experience exchange between students and educators, as well as the development of joint research projects, which will make a significant contribution to addressing global challenges.