Russian Deputy Minister of Foreign Affairs and Special Envoy for Middle Eastern and African Countries Mikhail Bogdanov received Sherif Gad, secretary-general of the African Union for Soviet and Russian University Graduates, in his office at Moscow's Foreign Ministry.

Bogdanov and Gad delved into the proposed programmes of the Year of Egyptian and Russian Culture at the beginning of 2020, initiated by presidents Abdel-Fattah El-Sisi and Vladimir Putin.

Bogdanov stressed that Russia was well prepared to celebrate the year of humanitarian cooperation between Russia and Egypt, including all cultural fields. "There is full coordination with the Egyptian Embassy in Moscow, and a governmental committee has been formed to supervise the preparations of the culture year."

He pointed out to the importance of the graduates' role in building bridges of communication and cooperation between Russia and Egypt.

Bogdanov added that Russia had welcomed the graduates' participation in the Russia-Africa Summit in Sochi last month.

Gad extended his condolences for the death of the Russian ambassador in Cairo Sergei Kirpichenko on 2 September 2019, stressing the importance of continuing to work to achieve his ideas regarding the Egypt-Russia Culture Year 2020.

Gad disclosed that the Egyptian Ministry of Culture, headed by Minister Ines Abdel-Dayem, has taken practical steps within the framework of the Egypt-Russia Culture Year 2020 and formed a committee at the Supreme Council of Culture to prepare the schedule of activities, one of which had already taken place last month, when the Egyptian-Russian Relations Conference was held in cooperation with the Russian Cultural Centre in Cairo.

"Preparations are underway for holding the conference titled, 'Egyptian-Russian Relations through the Ages and Future Prospects' in April 2020 with the participation of a large group of Russian Orientalists," Gad added.

During the meeting, Gad highlighted the activities undertaken by the Arab Union of Soviet and Russian University Graduates and the recently established African Union of Soviet and Russian University Graduates in Morocco.

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