On December 9, the grand opening ceremony of MGIMO-Tashkent, the first foreign branch in the history of the University, took place

In the new building, erected in record time thanks to the support of the leadership of the Republic, students, professors, employees, students of high schools in Tashkent, graduates of different years and guests of the ceremony gathered. The branch’s walls were decorated with a photo exhibition on the history and present of MGIMO “From the Lazarev Institute to the Present Day” specially prepared for the event.

The branch was opened by Advisor to the President of Uzbekistan, Rector of the University of World Economy and Diplomacy A.A. Abduvakhitov, Minister of Foreign Affairs of Uzbekistan A.Kh. Kamilov and Rector of MGIMO, Academician of the Russian Academy of Sciences A.V. Torkunov.

A.A. Abduvakhitov noted that the Agreement, signed last year in the presence of the Presidents of the two countries, became the basis for the opening of the MGIMO Branch in Tashkent. “It is very pleasant to state that the project has turned out. We are interested in the cooperation between Russia and Uzbekistan to serve both the field of diplomacy and the development of education in Uzbekistan, ”A.A. Abduvakhitov emphasized.

A.Kh. Kamilov welcomed the opening of the MGIMO Branch in Uzbekistan in a short time and expressed confidence that this would serve to strengthen bilateral cooperation in the training of highly qualified personnel.

“We went to MGIMO in Tashkent in a natural, logical way. We are sincerely grateful to the President of Uzbekistan Sh.M. Mirziyoyev, who initiated this project, and to the President of Russia V.V. Putin, who supported the opening of MGIMO in Uzbekistan. Even in the old Soviet MGIMO, from the very first years of its creation, the presence of students from Uzbekistan was significant. Our graduates returned to the Republic and replenished the ranks of the most sought-after specialists, replenished the foreign policy service and foreign economic associations, became well-known journalists, brilliant translators. In the corps of acting ambassadors of Russia and Uzbekistan alone, almost a dozen graduates of MGIMO graduates who entered the University from Uzbekistan. Among the representatives of the business community of both countries are the co-founders of the MGIMO Endowment A.B.Usmanov and F.K.Shodiev,” said A.Torkunov.

On the occasion of the opening of the Branch in Tashkent on the occasion of the 75th anniversary of MGIMO, Anatoly Vasilyevich handed A.A. Abduvakhitov, A.Kh. Kamilov and the vice-chancellor of the UEDA M.T.Bakoev the Order of Merit MGIMO. In conclusion, the Rector introduced the Director of the Branch, the Ambassador of Uzbekistan to Russia (2003-2008), the graduate of the MGIMO in 1977 B.A. Islamov.

The event was attended by Russian Ambassador to Uzbekistan V.L. Tyurdenev, representatives of the Presidential Administration.

Prior to the ceremony, the guests examined the Branch building and the Library, combining classical architecture and modern infrastructure, talked with the first students who had already begun their studies at MGIMO-Tashkent undergraduate and graduate programs, with students of lyceum classes.

MGIMO-Tashkent students specially for the opening of the Branch prepared a presentation video about the first impressions of their studies and educational programs.