World Peoples’ Summit in Moscow Stresses Education as Key to Scientific, Cultural Diplomacy

University leaders from more than 40 countries convened in Moscow for the first World Peoples’ Summit, highlighting the role of education in strengthening dialogue, peace, and sustainable development. The event was organized by the World Peoples’ Association (Global Union of NGOs) and attended by delegations from over 150 nations.

Opening the summit, President Andrei Belyaninov called for cooperation that transcends divisions. “We believe the new world will be built on joint efforts, where values stand above differences. Dialogue and cooperation between peoples remain the best alternative to violence and war,” he said.

Representing Egypt, Dr. Amr Salama, Secretary-General of the Association of Arab Universities and former Minister of Higher Education, emphasized universities’ central role in what he described as “scientific and cultural diplomacy.” “They are bridges between minds before governments, establishing partnerships that foster peace and sustainable development,” he noted.

Salama highlighted the work of the Association of Arab Universities, which includes more than 450 institutions. He pointed to initiatives such as the Arab University Rankings, partnerships with the International Association of Universities, and growing cooperation with Russia. The annual Arab–Russian University Presidents Forum, held four times to date, has expanded academic and cultural ties.

According to Salama, more than 2,000 Russian students are currently studying in Egyptian universities, supported by over 200 cooperation agreements with Arab institutions. Joint research has also flourished, with more than 800 co-authored papers published in advanced fields such as artificial intelligence, materials science, and medicine in 2022 alone. The number of Arab students enrolled in Russian universities now exceeds 50,000.

In his remarks, Shereef Gad, head of the Association of Russian and Soviet University Alumni and secretary-general of the Egyptian–Russian Friendship Association, called for the establishment of a "Russian Studies Centre" to better connect Arab academia with Russian scholarship. He noted that Egypt has 11 Russian language departments—the largest number in the Middle East—yet institutional ties remain limited.

Concluding the summit, participants voiced optimism that the gathering would pave the way for stronger intercultural dialogue and deeper academic cooperation across continents.