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Russia tries to match the highest world standards in education and is committed to constantly improving the level of training at its own higher education institutions, the President said opening the forum.

He stressed that in the modern fast-changing world requirements for the training of specialists are much higher than 20–30 years ago, but Russian education is still among the recognized world leaders that produces top-class professionals. This is witnessed by the victories of Russian higher education and school students at international competitions and the growing demand for graduates of Russian colleges and universities at major scientific and production centers around the world.

Russian (Soviet) education has always been widely accessible for talented youth. Since 1949 more than half a million foreigners have graduated from Russian (Soviet) institutes and universities. Every year Russian higher education institutions enroll more than 10,000 foreign students and interns, and almost 90,000 students from more than 150 countries take upgrading courses in Russia. Among the former students of Russian (Soviet) higher education institutions are heads of state, ministers, members of parliament and other prominent politicians, founders of scientific schools and members of the world creative elite.

All the graduates of Russian higher education institutions who occupy important government posts, or engage in social, commercial, research or cultural activities, contribute to the establishment of direct contacts, the development of cultural, trade and economic cooperation between Russia and their native countries and help to tap the great potential of diversified interaction between states. Russia values their contribution to the strengthening of bilateral relations and intends to develop the practice of training foreign students at its higher education institutions in line with the interests and requests of the students. Vladimir Putin said that the Russian Government had developed a policy concept for training national cadres of specialists for foreign countries that envisages an increase in the enrollment of foreign citizens. The funding for these activities will be doubled in 2004.

The World Forum of Graduates of Russian (Soviet) Higher Education Institutions taking place in Moscow from May 14 to 16 is attended by more than 800 foreigners who at various times graduated from the institutes, academies and universities of Russia and the CIS countries.