Strategies for cultural exchange among Chinese students studying in Russia in the context of the "Belt and Road" initiative

The subject of the research is the cultural exchange of Chinese students studying in the Russian Federation in the context of the implementation of the "One Belt, One Road" initiative. The object of the study is the process of intercultural adaptation and communication of this group within the Russian educational space. Culture serves as a common context for the educational process. The structural elements of culture are integrated into educational programs. The author examines aspects of the topic such as interaction in the academic environment, overcoming language barriers, adapting to the social realities and cultural practices of the host country. Special attention is paid to analyzing the limiting factors of intercultural communication: insufficient proficiency in the Russian language, differences in values and social customs, superficial understanding of modern Russian culture, as well as limited involvement of foreign students in everyday culture. The aim of the study is to identify effective strategies for optimizing cultural exchange between the two countries. A system-structural method is applied to analyze the functioning of the communication system, which allows for the identification of relationships between the elements of the educational process and the determination of bottlenecks in intercultural interaction. The novelty of the research lies in rejecting traditional superficial approaches and developing a systematic strategic model for enhancing cultural exchange, based on a four-dimensional optimization pathway. The model encompasses the improvement of language training, deepening cognitive aspects of cultural perception, creating common symbolic practices, and developing institutional support. The main findings of the study include the establishment of key barriers to intercultural adaptation, including language difficulties and cultural differences, as well as the justification for a comprehensive approach to overcoming them. The author's contribution to the research on the topic is the formulation of practical recommendations for developing students' intercultural competence, which can be used by universities to increase the effectiveness of Russian-Chinese educational cooperation and facilitate the implementation of the "One Belt, One Road" initiative.