5 December 2017
December 1st, MGIMO welcomed a delegation from the Australian National University. During the visit, representatives of MGIMO and ANU signed a Memorandum of Cooperation.
The Australian delegation comprised the Dean of the College of Asia and the Pacific at ANU, Michael Wesley and the Executive Director of the China Institute at ANU, also Associate Director of the Australian Center on China in the World, Richard Rigby. Ambassador Peter Tesch and other diplomats of the Australian Embassy in Moscow joined the delegation on their trip to MGIMO.
The guests were welcomed by MGIMO’s Vice-Rector for Graduate and International Programs, Andrey Baykov, the Director of the Centre for China Studies and Regional Projects, Alexey Voskresensky and other members of the faculty. The Australian Professors were taken on a tour of the University, during which they visited MGIMO’s History Museum and the Museum of Rare Books. The delegation learned about the history of the University and showed a great interest in the rare books passed on to MGIMO by the Lazarev Institute of Oriental Languages.
During their interview, the sides signed a Memorandum on Cooperation, a framework agreement, which will allow MGIMO and ANU to begin exchange programs of students and professors. This year marks the 75th anniversary of the beginning of diplomatic relations between Russia and Australia and the memorandum contributes to the celebration of this memorable date.
The guests also took part in a round table dedicated to the current state and main priorities of China Studies in Russia and Australia. Professor Richard Rigby delivered a lecture to MGIMO students on how Russia influenced the Chinese leader Qu Qiubai and the Australian Diplomat Harry Rigby. A discussion followed on how revolutionary Russia was perceived in China and Australia.
— See the MGIMO web-site for more photos and russian version
