On December 20 (Wednesday), Executive Director Vladimir Kochin of the Russkiy Mir Foundation of Russia visited Soka University and delivered a lecture.

　Soka University has concluded academic exchange agreements with nine universities in Russia and established the Russian Center on June 11, 2016, which was the first of its kind at a university campus in Japan. Other than Soka University, the center has also been established at over 100 universities around the world, including Thailand’s Chulalongkorn University, Italy’s University of Milan, and Spain’s University of Granada.
　The Russkiy Mir Foundation was established in 2007 by the order of the president of Russia. It is a non-profit organization that aims to help disseminate Russian culture, and it concluded an agreement with Soka University in August 2015.

　Executive Director Vladimir Kochin delivered a lecture, titled “The Modern World and Russian Culture.” While introducing the history and culture of Russia, he shared that, currently, in Russia, the number of foreign students that are interested in the Russian language and culture is increasing, and the Russkiy Mir Foundation conducts activities through which such youth can understand Russia and convey what they learned to those around them when they return to their home countries. He also shared that Soka University concluded an academic exchange agreement with the University of Moscow in 1975 and has deepened friendly exchanges over the course of many years. Executive Director Kochin shared his hopes to enrich these “Russian Centers” throughout the world and to help disseminate the Russian culture.