Lomonosov Moscow State University Hosts Landmark Global South Cooperation International Conference

Moscow, January 23, 2025 – Under the theme “Russia, Brazil, and Africa: Strengthening Cooperation Between Global South Countries,” Lomonosov Moscow State University (LMSU) convened an international conference that brought together leaders and experts from Russia, Brazil, and Africa to discuss pathways to deepen partnerships across business, education, politics, and culture.

The conference took place at the Faculty of Global Studies at LMSU with simultaneous translation in Russian, English, and Portuguese. The event was organized by LMSU, the Federal University of Rio de Janeiro, and the Russian-African Network University, in collaboration with key co-organizers including the Russian-African Club and the Russian-Latin American Studies International Club.

The opening ceremony featured welcome addresses by prominent figures, including Professor Ilya V. Ilyin, Dean of the Faculty of Global Studies (Russia), and Professor Roberto de Andrade Medronho, President of the Federal University of Rio de Janeiro (Brazil). Distinguished speakers from across the Global South, such as Professor Hisham Mohamed Abdelsalam of the Egyptian e-Learning University and Dr. Richard Silumbe of Zambia Research and Development Centre, emphasized the role of academic and research collaboration in fostering international development.

Dr. Inga A. Koryagina, Director of International Cooperation of the Russian-African Club at Lomonosov Moscow State University and Associate Professor of Marketing at Plekhanov Russian University of Economics, remarked, “The Russian-African Club serves as a pivotal platform for global international cooperation, enabling countries from diverse regions to work together in creating sustainable solutions and expanding mutual understanding.”

The plenary session, moderated by Maxim N. Zalyvskiy, Head of the Russian-African Network University, and Dr. Alexander F. Berdnikov, Executive Secretary of the Russian-African Club, addressed key issues such as BRICS as a platform for development, low-carbon initiatives, and the role of universities in bilateral relations. Notable speakers included former President of Kyrgyzstan Professor Askar A. Akaev, and Professor Rasigan Maharajh of South Africa, who provided critical insights into the opportunities and challenges facing the Global South in a multipolar world.

The conference concluded with a Young Researchers Session, where emerging scholars from Russia, Brazil, Africa, and Pakistan presented innovative research on topics such as technological collaboration, the role of youth in education, and the impact of climate change on women in farming communities.

Dr. Ruslan D. Grebnev, Deputy Dean of the Faculty of Global Studies and member of the organizing committee, lauded the event as a testament to the potential of the Global South to drive transformative cooperation and contribute to equitable global development.