A statue of Confucius is unveiled at Kazan Federal University in Russia on Oct 23 (local time). [Photo/CCTV News] 

A statue of Confucius was unveiled at Kazan Federal University in Russia on Oct 23 (local time).

The statue of Confucius, standing approximately 2.5 meters tall opposite the university library, is a symbol of exchange and dialogue between Chinese and Russian cultures. In 2007, Kazan Federal University established a Confucius Institute in collaboration with Hunan Normal University.

Rector Lenar Safin, president of Kazan Federal University, said that the unveiling of the statue during the 16th BRICS Summit holds symbolic significance. He hopes that Eastern philosophy represented by Confucius and Confucianism can promote cultural exchanges among countries, build international consensuses, and foster development.

Established in 1804, Kazan Federal University founded the first Chinese language teaching institution in Russia in 1837 and has maintained a tradition of teaching Chinese and studying Chinese culture. Currently, more than 2,000 Chinese students are enrolled at Kazan Federal University, and approximately 1,000 local students are learning Chinese.