The III Youth Forum “Cultural Code 2024” was held at St. Petersburg University (SPbU). It brought together leading Russian artists, heads of cultural and educational institutions of global significance, young researchers, artists, and philosophers.

This year’s participants discussed the themes of unity, creation, dignity, and spirituality. Speakers included representatives of the Russian Artists‘ and Designers’ Unions, the St. Petersburg Union of Composers, the State Hermitage Museum, the State Russian Museum, the Mariinsky Theatre, the Peterhof Museum Reserve, the Manezh Central Exhibition Hall, the Rimsky-Korsakov Saint Petersburg State Conservatory, the Vaganova Ballet Academy, the Tianjin Conservatory of Music, the House of Russian-Turkish Friendship in Ankara, and other institutions.

In addition, during the forum there was a ceremony awarding the title of honorary doctor of SPbU to the Chinese writer Liu Zhenyun. Then he took part in a discussion with Professor Andrey Astvatsaturov, Dean of the Faculty of Liberal Arts and Sciences of SPbU, and Professor Alexey Rodionov, Senior Deputy Dean of the Faculty of Asian and African Studies of SPbU. The experts talked about the problems of perception of Chinese literature in Russia.

Professor Astvatsaturov urged Russian artists to pay attention to China’s cultural heritage.

“Chinese culture is more ancient; they have had time to change several civilisations and fully form literary tradition,” he said.

The university representative noted the important role of cultural dialogue with the peoples of Asia.

Photo: SPbU