The Trends and Development of Russian Language Teaching in Modern China

Introduction. Innovative approaches to the training of specialists in Chinese educational institutions are driven both by globalization processes, which imply international cooperation in various fields, and by national interests aimed at the development of the economy and other spheres of life in the country. The international interaction between China and Russia in various fields also defines cooperation in education, which is in line with the principles of the state initiative “One Belt, One Road”. This study identifies issues in the education of future specialists in the context of the development of a digital society and international connections. The aim of the article is to describe the problematic areas in the training of specialists at Jiangsu University of Science and Technology against the backdrop of the challenges faced by graduates of other universities in China that prepare professionals for international cooperation with Russia. Materials and Methods. The research material is based on the authors’ practical observations of the Russian language teaching at the Jiangsu University of Science and Technology and on the articles of Chinese scholars on the subject. Descriptive and analytical methods are used to analyze the works. Results. The article analyzes new trends in higher education, such as the integration of language modules into professional programs under the “Russian Language + Specialty” model, the use of digitalization opportunities in teaching, and teacher and student exchanges. It also identifies existing problems in language education: outdated methodologies and teaching materials, a focus on testing at the expense of a communicative approach, and other issues that need to be addressed as student motivation remains low. Discussion and Conclusion. The article suggests measures to increase the effectiveness of Sino-Russian educational contacts, including in the field of Russian language teaching within the framework of the “One Belt, One Road” initiative. Among them, the authors consider diversification of Sino-Russian joint educational projects, integration of ideological and political principles of China’s state development into Russian language teaching, etc. The results contribute to the development of the Chinese system of Russian language teaching integrated into professional university education programs.