Rosneft, the Moscow State Institute of International Relations under Russia's Ministry of Foreign Affairs (MGIMO) and MGIMO's International Institute of Energy Policy and Diplomacy (MIEP) have entered into a Strategic Partnership Agreement.

The Agreement was signed on June 26 in Moscow by Rosneft President Sergei Bogdanchikov, MGIMO Rector Anatoly Torkunov and MIEP Director Valery Salygin.

The Agreement provides for collaboration between the parties on a number of key aspects of the training of specialists, including the integrated study of issues relevant to Russia's petroleum industry.

The directors of the organizations which have entered into this strategic alliance are confident that the execution of this document is important both for the higher education system and for Russia's business community as a whole. The cooperation between Rosneft, MGIMO and MIEP is aimed at resolving the objectives set by Russian President Vladimir Putin to enhance the quality of education and to involve directors and experts from leading companies in the education process.

The Agreement is a logical continuation of the collaboration which started with Rosneft's founding of a 'Global Energy Policy and Energy Security' department at MGIMO's MIEP. The creation of this department will facilitate resolution of key issues of international energy security, and will enhance the practical training of specialists required for the resolution of the strategic issues faced by Russia's fuel and energy sector and for the strengthening of Russia's leading position on global energy markets.