VI Forum of Rectors of the Iran-Russia Top Universities

On Thursday, April 27th, 2023 during the opening ceremony of the 6th Summit of the Presidents of Iran's and Russia's Top Universities at Lomonosov Moscow State University, Prof. Seyed Mohammad Moghimi, President of University of Tehran and Head of the Secretariat of Iranian Top Universities, said:

"Today, the 6th meeting of the presidents of the top universities of Iran and Russia is being held, in which the relations between Iran and Russia are at their highest political level, and we witness alignment in political positions, especially in regional and global crises, as well as a critical approach to the international system, at the level of senior political leaders of Iran and Russia. Therefore, a very suitable platform has been created for the scientific cooperation between the two countries, which we have never witnessed in the history of the relations".

At the same time, the president of University of Tehran stated: "Unfortunately, despite the proper development of political relations, we have not been very successful in developing economic and social relations, and especially scientific and cultural relations in accordance with the capacities of the two countries. Therefore, considering Iran's political and economic relations with Russia, it is necessary that scientific and academic relations grow and expand along with it. The past experience of Iran-Russia relations shows that these relations have had many ups and downs and it seems that in order to achieve strategic interactions and stabilize these relations, extensive scientific interactions between the science and technology institutions of the two countries are highly necessary".

Explaining the necessity of expanding scientific and academic relations between Iran and Russia, Prof. Moghimi added: "Iran and Russia, as two neighboring countries, have shared cultural commonalities and common interests for a long time, and even today they have common enemies, who use many tactics, including sanctions and threats to their security .Therefore, the scientific institutions of the two countries are the strength and reliance of the two countries in this sensitive situation".

The professor of University  of Tehran continues: Today, the domineering system targets this strong point of independent countries and attacks the science and scholars of independent nations and tries to create many obstacles for their scientific society. Their heavy attack and accusations in recent years on Iran's scientific development in the field of energy and nuclear technology is one of the clear examples of these enmities, although the praiseworthy support of the Russian Federation in international forums for Iran has become a symbol of constructive cooperation between the two countries. Of course, they never stop their enmity. Today, these enmities are more or less directed at the country of the Russian Federation".

Prof. Moghimi further said: " The domineering countries are trying to divert science and technology from its original path, and instead of science working for the comfort and well-being of people, they use science as a tool to dominate and deprive other nations of their comfort. Today, the world dominates the science and scholars of independent nations, and they both deprive themselves of their science and create many obstacles for independent nations".

The president of  University  of Tehran stated  "The approach governing the universities of the Islamic Republic of Iran, which is based on Islamic teachings, is the development of useful science and the use of science as a tool for comfort, prosperity and peace". He also noted that Islam always promotes and encourages science and knowledge and science and research has been assigned to Muslims and not only the real Muslim rulers have not been an obstacle to scientific progress, but by honoring scholars and providing their presence in decision-making centers, they have put science at the service of the society and the nations of the world have benefited from science. They have benefited a lot in different fields of philosophy, literature, social and behavioral sciences, engineering, basic sciences, art and medicine.

By stating this introduction, Prof. Moghimi pointed out,  " The meeting of presidents of the top universities of Iran and Russia has special tasks" and added " This meeting has an important mission and to fulfill its historical role as a facilitating and coordinating institution, operational steps should be taken beyond the previous memorandums. In line with the missions of the entrepreneurial university, while strengthening the educational, research and technological aspects, we need to take steps towards solving the problems of the society. Therefore, it is expected that this conference will provide effective mechanisms for the internal and external functions of the universities of the two countries".

He added," We want to develop scientific interactions in two sectors. One is to improve the internal functions of our universities in the field of education and research, and the other is to help solve common issues between the two countries. In order to realize the internal and external functions of our universities according to the characteristics of an entrepreneurial university in the form of the summit memorandum, it is necessary to form institutions and working groups related to them. I suggest that a science and technology interaction center between Iranian and Russian universities to be established and a suitable physical space be considered in  University of Tehran and Lomonosov Moscow State University for it to be a place for following up on agreements, forming specialized working groups, and visiting academics from the two countries. .

The president of the University of Tehran mentioned further on   the establishment of joint scientific bases, exchange of professors and students, design and implementation of joint training courses, implementation of joint research projects for common issues and concerns, design and implementation of university ranking system, regular holding of scientific and technological exhibitions in the universities of the two countries in order to bring closer  the academics, technologists and business owners, through which the achievements of universities and knowledge-based companies can be displayed as applicable examples for scientific and academic cooperation between the two countries.

Referring to the importance of the "Iran-Russia Strategic Agreement", Prof. Moghimi stated: This strategic document defines the perspective of scientific relations between the two countries. Therefore, I ask the editors of this document to contribute to the preparation of the science and technology section of the document and to finalize it with the members of the conference of the top universities of Iran and Russia. In addition, I suggest that for all the sections of the strategic document on Iran-Russia relations, an appendix scientifically prepared by the members of this meeting so that based on a roadmap of scientific and technological cooperation, this document will take on a more scientific and practical aspect.

He mentioned the agreement on the North-South Corridor as another valuable capacity that the universities of the two countries of Iran and Russia can address in the form of the meeting of the presidents of the top universities of Iran and Russia, and stated: "the North-South Corridor is one of the most important functional economic plans in the region. It connects Eurasia to the Persian Gulf and Southeast Asia from Iran. Although two decades have passed since the signing of the North-South Corridor agreement between the three countries of Iran, Russia and India, this plan has not yet been fully realized".

The professor of University of Tehran's Faculty of Management mentioned, " This route, which connects the Oman Sea and Iran's Chabahar port through Russia to the Baltic Sea and Finland, if it becomes operational, it can become one of the important alternative transport routes and a competitor to the Suez Canal route. If the North-South Corridor is developed, the flow of goods transfer in the world will change, and there are many diverse cultural, scientific and economic opportunities in the shadow of this project, which, if academicians enter it, will lead to unique achievements for the two countries and the region".

In the end, the president of University of Tehran stated that in order to strengthen the position of scientific institutions of independent countries in the face of arrogance, it is necessary to strengthen our scientific front. He emphasized: "Therefore, considering Iran's membership in the Shanghai Cooperation Organization agreement, my specific suggestion is that based on the successful experience of the meeting of the top universities of Iran and Russia, the Association of universities of the Shanghai Cooperation Organization should be formed, and the University of Tehran is ready to serve as the secretariat of this union.  Of course, in the meeting with the Chinese ambassador in Iran, the official and written request of   University of Tehran was submitted last year

Prof. Seyed Mohammad Moghimi expressed his hope: "In this meeting, regarding the improvement of the current structure and the preparation of a comprehensive strategic document, we will draw a favorable perspective for its effectiveness and implement it".

In his speech, the President of University of Tehran appreciated the hosting of Lomonosov Moscow State University and also the initiative and efforts of Professor Sadovnichi in the formation and continuity of the meeting of presidents of the top universities of Iran and Russia.

The presidents of the universities of Tehran, Tehran Medical Sciences, Sharif Industrial, Allameh Tabatabai, Amir Kabir Industrial, Shahid Beheshti, K.N.T, Tabriz, Shiraz and Isfahan universities, as well as technical and professional were present in this meeting.

Also, Prof. Seyed Mohammad Marandi, Vice President for International  Affairs of University of
Tehran, Prof. Ali Asadi, President of Science and Technology Park of University of Tehran, and Prof. Mehdi Fakour Thaghieh, Vice President for Research and Technology of University of Tehran, accompanied  Prof. Moghimi during their trip to Moscow . Prof.  Asadi,the President of Science and Technology Park met and talked with his counterpart at Lomonosov Moscow State University.