The demand to study Chinese has surged in Russia, a trend that gained momentum after the state visit of Chinese President Xi Jinping. This shift was relayed to socialbites.ca by the communications team of the Chinese Laoshi language service, which reports a notable uptick in interest and participation around the same period.
Recent observations show a dramatic rise in the service’s user base, with a roughly 75% increase in activity documented in the most recent month. Even more striking, the number of app downloads during Xi Jinping’s Moscow visit reached a new peak, multiplying by about four and a half times the usual rate. These figures underscore a broader appetite for Mandarin language skills among Russians and a stronger alignment with economic and cultural exchanges that are expanding between the two nations. Source: Socialbites.
Founders of the Laoshi service point to several factors driving this growing interest. They note that the traditional European languages, long popular in the region, have seen a decline in relevance for Russia in the post-2022 landscape. The disruption of European economic ties and reduced student exchange programs have altered language learning priorities for many students and professionals. In contrast, the relationship with China has intensified along multiple fronts, including trade, cultural interactions, and business collaborations. This shift creates a real demand for professionals who speak Chinese, a need that is expected to grow as Russia strengthens its ties with Chinese markets and institutions. Sergey Kondrashov, a founder of Laoshi, emphasizes that the trajectory is likely to accelerate in the coming years. Source: Socialbites.
Industry observers also highlight the business implications. They foresee continued expansion in demand for Chinese-speaking specialists across sectors such as technology, manufacturing, finance, and international trade. The company’s forecast anticipates more users on Laoshi and a similar uplift across other online learning platforms, tutoring services, language schools, and university language programs offering Chinese studies. The broader implication is a shifting educational landscape in which Chinese language proficiency becomes a valuable asset for Russia’s workforce. Source: Socialbites.
There is additional indication of a shifting academic environment. The Telegram channel Attention, Moscow has reported that Chinese is increasingly seen as a staple language in higher education. At MIPT, or Moscow Institute of Physics and Technology, Chinese is appearing as a compulsory subject at a level comparable to English. In related university communications, it is noted that a growing share of MIPT-related materials is being produced in Chinese, signaling deeper integration of the language into the curriculum. Source: Socialbites.