On the signing of a cooperation agreement between the Institute for African Studies of the Russian Academy of Sciences and MGIMO of the Ministry of Foreign Affairs of Russia

On May 31, 2021, a cooperation agreement was signed between the Institute for African Studies of the Russian Academy of Sciences and MGIMO of the Ministry of Foreign Affairs of Russia, which will contribute to the implementation of joint initiatives in the field of education, science and the training of highly qualified personnel. On behalf of the Institute for African Studies of the Russian Academy of Sciences, the agreement was signed by I.O. Abramova, Director of the Institute, Corresponding Member of the Russian Academy of Sciences, Doctor of Economics, Professor, on behalf of MGIMO - A.V. Torkunov, Rector of MGIMO of the Ministry of Foreign Affairs of Russia, Academician, Doctor of Political Sciences, Professor.

Within the walls of the University, along with the official ceremony of signing the document, an open lecture was held by the director of the Institute for African Studies of the Russian Academy of Sciences I.O. Irina Olegovna's speech was listened to by students of the university, employees of the Institute for International Studies (IMI MGIMO of the Ministry of Foreign Affairs of Russia) and representatives of the Institute for African Studies of the Russian Academy of Sciences.

The event was opened by the opening speech of MGIMO Rector of the Russian Foreign Ministry A.V. Torkunov. In his speech, Anatoly Vasilyevich emphasized the importance of the African direction for Russia's foreign policy.

In the main part of the event, I.O. Abramova noted the significant pace of economic and demographic development of the African macroregion, its growing role in the modern world and significant resource potential, listed the main areas of cooperation between Russia and the states of the continent, and also pointed out that African countries can become reliable geostrategic partners of the Russian Federation in the international arena.

After the lecture, a discussion took place in the “question-answer” format, moderated by the director of the MGIMO Institute for International Studies, M.A. Suchkov.