The Russian Cultural Centre, directed by Aleksey Tevanyan, held a graduation day celebration, in cooperation with the Egyptian Society of Russian and Soviet University Graduates, to honour its graduates on 25 November.

In attendance were a group of media figures and diplomats, led by Russian Consular Abakarov Yusub.

In his speech, Tevanyan reviewed the programme of the Russian Cultural Centre to celebrate the Egyptian-Russian Culture Year 2020, initiated by presidents Abdel-Fattah El-Sisi and Vladimir Putin.

The programme includes the unveiling of three statues of iconic Russian figures: Yuri Gagarin, the first astronaut in history; ballerina Anna Pavlova, and writer Mikhail Sholokhov.

The programme will organise a conference titled, "Egyptian-Russian Relations through the Ages and Future Prospects" in April 2020 with the participation of a large number of Russian writers and Orientalists at the Supreme Council of Culture.

The Russian Film Week will be held in cooperation with the General Organisation of Cultural Palaces and the National Council of Cinema and in coordination with the Ministry of Culture's foreign cultural relations sector.

Tevanyan stressed that the graduates play an integral role in boosting Russian-Egyptian relations, and cooperating with them is not only the concern of the Russian Centre but of the Russian government as well. 

President of the Egyptian Society of Russian and Soviet University Graduates Sherif Gad said he appreciates the cooperation between the centre and the society aimed at developing bilateral relations between the two countries.

He thanked his colleagues at the society, the pioneers and youth, and celebrated the two most important alumni events that took place last month: that of professor of Russian Literature Makarem El-Ghamry, who was honoured by Russian President Vladimir Putin with the Pushkin Medal; and the success of Fathi Toughan, a professor at Al-Tebin Institute for Metallurgical Studies, for establishing the first Faculty of Engineering between Belarus and Egypt.

Gad concluded by stressing the readiness of the graduates to work on the Egyptian-Russian Culture Year 2020. He also confirmed the crucial role the media plays in conveying the message of the Russian Cultural Centre and the graduates' society.