Siberian Federal University

The 1st Rectors’ Forum of Russian, Spanish and Latin-American higher education institutions was held on the 2nd of March, 2009 in Madrid. The meeting was organized by the Ministry of Science and Innovation of the Kingdom of Spain and the Ministry of Education and Science of the Russian Federation within the framework of state visit of Dmitriy Medvedev, President of the Russian Federation. Dmitriy Medvedev conducted negotiations with Juan Carlos I, King of Spain and José Luis Rodrígez Zapatero, Chairman of the Spanish Government. President of the Russian Federation also laid a wreath on the memorial to people who died for Spain. Then he visited city executive board where he had been awarded with «Golden key of Madrid». Finally, Dmitriy Medvedev held a meeting with representatives of both chambers of General Cortes. Sergey Prihod'ko, RF presidential aide reported on a press-conference: «This state visit was the first visit of Dmitriy Medvedev to Spain. It provided both countries with further consolidation of traditional trust-based dialogue on a higher level».

Eugene A. Vaganov, Rector of Siberian Federal University was integrated in the delegation on invitation of Dmitriy Medvedev. Mr. Angel Gabilondo, President of Confederation of Spanish Rectors, Vladimir Sadovnichy, President of Russian Rectors’ Union, Mr. Félix García Lausín, General Secretary of Latin-American higher education institutions Council made a speech in the programme of the 1st Rectors’ Forum of Russian, Spanish and Latin-American higher education institutions.

Three sessions were planned to be conducted within the framework of the Forum. Eugene A. Vaganov, Rector of Siberian Federal University was invited to be a moderator on the last session which was devoted to elaboration of action programme concerning successful collaboration of Russian, Spanish and Latin-American higher education institutions. As explained by Eugene A. Vaganov, «the meeting of Rectors will contribute to extension of relations between universities in terms of academic activities and academic mobility of faculty and students. I am sure that the Forum will be so-called accelerator of our cooperation in the future».

Following the results of negotiations of President of the Russian Federation and Chairman of the Spanish Government, a number of documents was signed including the Declaration of strategic partnership which confirms existing level of relations and outlines upcoming trends of comprehensive collaboration between the Russian Federation and Spain.