The Joint Declaration of Intent between the National Council for Science and Technology of Mexico (CONACYT) and the Joint Institute for Nuclear Research reflects plans of the parties to work together in the field of frontier, fundamental, and applied research. CONACYT Director General María Elena Álvarez-Buylla Roces signed the document on the part of Mexico. JINR Director Grigory Trubnikov sighed the document in Dubna. The festive signing ceremony took place on 16 February at the 133rd session of the JINR Scientific Council in the presence of Ambassador Extraordinary and Plenipotentiary of the United Mexican States to Russia Eduardo Villegas Megías.

Commenting on the signing of the document, Grigory Trubnikov noted, “Today, we have concluded an intergovernmental agreement that opens up new horizons for us to cooperate with Mexico. The scientific programme of the Institute correlates well with the programme of Mexican universities and scientific organizations. This cooperation offers new opportunities for all the JINR Member States.” The JINR Director also highlighted that the cooperation with Mexico, which is one of the key countries in Latin America, would give a new impetus to the development of relations of the Joint Institute with Argentina and Brazil.

Eduardo Villegas Megías expressed his confidence in the success of the CONACYT-JINR collaboration. “Mexico is ready to take another step towards mutual understanding. We firmly believe in the power of knowledge and have high expectations for the coming future together”, the Ambassador noted.

A report by President of the Mexican Physical Society and Professor of the Physics Institute of the National Autonomous University of Mexico (UNAM) Ana Maria Cetto Kramis preceded the signing of the Declaration. Dr Cetto dedicated her report to the promising fields for expanding the cooperation between Mexico and JINR. Among the areas of potential interest the speaker noted such fields as the use of synchrotron radiation for the study of characteristics of new materials, theoretical and experimental studies in the field of plasma physics. Moreover, nuclear, radiological safety, dosimetry, radiation physics and chemistry are also of mutual interest.

Ana Maria Cetto Kramis in her comment noted that the signed agreement would allow for mutually enriching cooperation, which would be useful not only to accomplished Mexican scientists but especially for the young generation of scholars who have a lot to learn from JINR. “The Joint Declaration of Intent is a significant document. It reflects the will of both parties to work together and commit to make their plans come true. It is not the first step in our collaboration with JINR, it started several years ago within the NICA Project. But this agreement is an important step in furthering our collaboration. We are very optimistic about the future of our cooperation!” she said.