The message to Li Yanlin contains the following passage:
“Your decade-long assembling of the work of Russian writers and poets who immigrated to China in the 1920s and 1940s, is an unquestionably significant event in Russian-Chinese cultural cooperation, and in strengthening the spiritual ties between our peoples.
Russian-Chinese relations have a history of more than three and a half centuries. A close and sincere friendship connects more than one generation of Russians and Chinese. After the 1917 revolution, fate resulted in many of our compatriots finding their second home in China. Unfortunately, the general public knows little about this multifaceted and interesting period of Russian emigration. Due to your efforts and the support of Chinese authorities, today we have the pleasant and unique opportunity to discover an important part of our common history and culture.”
Vladimir Putin thanked the professor for his huge and invaluable contribution.