Representatives of MEPhI have taken part in the first Russian-Japanese Symposium, held from 23 to 25 March. The event was devoted to University exchanges for the purpose of further training for the industrial sectors of the two countries.

The Russian side was represented by the Deputy Prime Minister Olga Golodets, Minister of economic development Maxim Oreshkin, head of Business Russia organization and Chairman of the Russian-Japanese business Council Alexey Repik. Japan was represented by the Minister of economy, trade and industry Hiroshige Seko responsible for the development of economic relations with Moscow. In addition, there were delegations of more than 10 universities of both countries, including the National Research Nuclear University MEPhI.

Russia and Japan find a great potential in strengthening University exchanges and expanding cooperation in the field of training personnel for the development of the countries’ economies. In particular, Olga Golodets, speaking at the Symposium, noted that the parties now face similar challenges in the field of vocational education.

"We understand that today there are great prospects for the development of humanitarian cooperation, and our task is to implement them. Our countries are close in terms of population structure, we also experience some shortage of labor resources and the issue of vocational training is very acute both for Russia and Japan," Olga Golodets said.

The Deputy Prime Minister also expressed hope that joint Russian-Japanese programs in the field of vocational education will bring it to a new qualitative level. Olga Golodets said that Russia was ready to increase quotas for Japanese students for free education in Russian universities as part of cooperation with Japan.

"Today we provide quotas to students of other countries. Now we have 97 students from Japan studying for free. We are ready to increase the quota for those specialties, which are in demand," she said. According to her, the development of interuniversity relations between Russia and Japan has great potential, and now about 250 agreements have been concluded between educational institutions of the two countries.

During the Symposium, there was a regular meeting of MEPhI and the University Kindai. In 2017, the universities signed an agreement on cooperation, which, inter alia, includes joint research projects, organization of symposiums, conferences, as well as various types of internships for students: for 2 weeks (introductory), for 1 semester, and full training of prediploma training - master's and postgraduate.

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Economic cooperation of Russia and Japan is based on the eight-point plan, proposed by Japanese Prime Minister Shinzo Abe in 2016. The document implies the strengthening of relations between the two countries in the field of energy, small and medium-sized businesses, industrialization of the Far East, the expansion of the export base. It also includes a proposal to strengthen cooperation in the field of advanced technologies, including nuclear power, and in the field of humanitarian exchanges.

Last year, following a meeting between the Russian Minister of economic development Maxim Oreshkin and the Minister of economy, trade and industry Hiroshige Seko in Vladivostok, a joint statement on cooperation in the field of digital economy and a memorandum on the exchange of experience in the field of productivity improvement were signed. They formed the basis for the implementation of bilateral cooperation between Japan and Russia to improve the efficiency of training of production personnel.

The parties agreed to develop a stable, reliable and secure digital infrastructure to bridge the digital gap, increase productivity and develop  human resources, as well as to expand the interaction of business in the digital economy and promote innovation through the introduction of enabling technologies. Moscow and Tokyo also decided to strengthen cooperation and exchange experience in the field of productivity, including the exchange of information on enterprises with high productivity. In their view, it should make a significant contribution to the socio-economic development of both countries.