Keng Chung-Yung, William Lu, took part in the special online spring gathering jointly held by the Taiwanese Student Associations in Moscow and St. Petersburg

In late February 2021, the Taiwanese Student Associations in Moscow and St. Petersburg, Russia jointly held a special spring gathering online at the start of the lunar new year for the year of the buffalo. It was organized with the support and planning by Education Division of Representative Office in Moscow for the Taipei–Moscow Economic and Cultural Coordination Commission (TMECCC), and more than 20 people took part, including Taiwanese students, Mandarin Chinese teachers, and Education Division personnel from five regions in Russia, and five students temporarilarly back in Taiwan continuing their studies at different universities in Russia in distance mode.

Keng Chung-Yung, Head of the Representative Office in Moscow for the TMECCC, made the opening remarks and extended traditional congratulations to all the participants for the start of the lunar new year. He also reminded all the Taiwanese students and teachers studying and working in Russia to be sure to take constant preventive measures against COVID-19. 

William Lu, Secretary of the Education Division, similarly greeted everyone and reminded the participating students to fill in the address books compiled by their local Taiwanese Student Association. This ensures that they can be reached if anything urgent arises, and to handle practical matters such as extending their study or work visa in time, distance learning, and border opening restrictions. He also explained how cases of fraud and administrative offenses are dealt with. 

Some Taiwanese students currently in Rostov-na-Dony, St. Petersburg, and Taiwan then shared details of their experiences studying and living in Russia during the tough pandemic period that began in March, 2020.

The overall COVID-19 situation in Russia is improving, and the government is lauching a massive vaccination campaign but the number of cases of infections still remains very high. All Taiwanese people in Russia need to stay alert and take the necessary precautions to protect themselves from getting infected. The Education Division is doing its best to keep in close contact with all the Taiwanese students and teachers and provide them timely support and assistance.