Egyptian Higher Education and Scientific Research Minister Ayman Ashour held talks on Friday with head of the International Cooperation Department of Joint Institute for Nuclear Research (JINR) in Russia Dmitry Kamanin.
The talks focused on means to activate a cooperation agreement signed with Moscow on the peaceful uses of nuclear energy through training programs for students and researchers.
Ashour stressed the Egyptian government's keenness on holding cooperation with friendly countries in scientific research to achieve Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs), a press statement said.
He hailed the distinguished ties binding Egypt and Russia, especially in scientific research and fields related to nuclear research and its peaceful applications.
The minister further underlined the importance of building the capabilities of young researchers through intense training.
“The Egyptian government places youth at the forefront of its priorities,” Ashour declared.
The Minister also lauded the ongoing cooperation between Egypt's Academy of Scientific Research and Technology (ASRT) and Russia's JINR in this respect.
The meeting covered the procedures for dispatching this month, the second group of 15- and 16-year-old students excelling in physics to JINR, as part of an integrated plan adopted by ASRT to advance basic sciences, especially physics and mathematics, and support geniuses.
The meeting also pointed out to the JINR's decision to raise the status of Egypt up to a full-fledged JINR Member State.
At the end of the meeting, Ashour received an invitation from Kamanin to attend along with a high-level Egyptian delegation the proceedings of the training, which is organized by the JINR for a number of experts, politicians and decision-makers from the member states.
Cooperation between Moscow and Cairo in the field of nuclear energy includes the construction of the Egyptian El-Dabaa Nuclear Plant.
The construction by Russia's state-owned energy corporation Rosatom, began last month.
The 4.8-gigawatt plant is located 300 kilometers west of Cairo in the Matrouh province on the Mediterranean.
