On June 23, 2026, the Russian Research Institute (Director: Professor Choi Woo-ik) signed a Memorandum of Understanding (MOU) on academic cooperation with the Arctic Research Center of Liaocheng University (聊城大学) in China at the Institute’s conference room.

Established in 2018 and headed by Director Qu Feng, the Arctic Research Center specializes in humanities-based research on the Arctic. The Center conducts anthropological research on a wide range of issues, including the lives of Siberian communities, indigenous beliefs, and environmental challenges.

The Arctic Research Center of Liaocheng University has also established academic cooperation with the Department of Anthropology at the University of Alaska and is currently engaged in joint research projects. In addition, the Center publishes the academic journal Beibingyang Yanjiu (北冰洋研究, Arctic Ocean Studies) and research monographs on the Arctic, establishing itself as one of China’s leading research institutions specializing in Arctic studies.

Based on the MOU signed today, the Russian Research Institute and the Arctic Research Center of Liaocheng University plan to pursue active and sustained academic cooperation on the Arctic region, including joint research and scholarly exchange.