On July 27, at the Intellectual Center of the Fundamental Library, Moscow State University, within the framework of the meeting of rectors from the leading universities of Russia and the Arab world, a Memorandum was adopted on developing the activities of the Russian-Arab Youth Union of the Federation of Rectors of Russian and Arab Universities. It was signed by Viktor Sadovnichiy, President of the Russian Union of Rectors, Rector of Moscow State University, and Amr Ezzat Salama, Secretary General of the Association of Arab Universities.

Aleksandr Guliakov, Rector of PSU, Chairman of the Council of Rectors of the Penza Region Universities, took an active part in the event.

In accordance with the adopted document, the activities of the Russian-Arab Youth Union are aimed at strengthening friendship and cooperation between students and post-graduate students, young scientists and specialists from Russia and the Arab countries. The implementation of the Memorandum will allow the parties to unite their efforts to support the cooperation of young researchers, to develop programmes of academic mobility and cultural exchange.

Also, Andrey Belyaninov, Secretary General of the Eurasian Peoples' Assembly, and Amr Ezzat Salama signed a Cooperation Agreement between the Eurasian Peoples' Assembly and the Association of Arab Universities, establishing the principles and mechanisms of interaction between the two international organizations.

The working meeting of the universities rectors and presidents was devoted to the plans of developing the Federation of Rectors of Russian and Arab Universities, an organization created on May 16, 2017 for interaction between university communities in Russia and the Arab world, assessment of the experience and prospects of such cooperation in a pandemic.

Speaking about the tasks of the Russian-Arab scientific and educational summit, Viktor Sadovnichiy, RUR President, Rector of Moscow State University, emphasized the growing interest in the development of all forms of dialogue and cooperation between the universities of Russia, the Middle East and North Africa, as well as the special status of the meeting.

“In the context of limited direct contacts and strict measures to organize an anti-epidemic regime still in force in many countries, the fact that we hold one of the first personal meetings between rectors with representatives of the Association of Arab Universities speaks of the importance that we attach to the development of our relations. Based on a deep tradition of mutual interest, multi-vector and multilateral cooperation on the platform of the Federation of Rectors of Russian and Arab Universities is not only an effective mechanism for scientific and educational diplomacy, but it also allows solving a whole range of practical tasks in maintaining a high level of university involvement in partner projects,” noted Viktor Sadovnichiy.

Based on the press review of Lomonosov Moscow State University