Further, the participants of the event – representatives of 16 partner universities from the EU and Central Asia – were welcomed with welcoming speeches: Deputy Minister of Foreign Affairs of the KR Aibek Moldogaziev, Rasul Abazbek uulu – Deputy Minister of Education and Science, Teri Hakala – European Union Special Representative for Central Asia, – Marilyn Jozefson, European Union Delegate to the Kyrgyz Republic, ChPP Turkmenistan in KR Shadurdy Meredov, ChPP of Uzbekistan in KR Khurshid Mirzahidov, Mr. Murat Zhakypbekov, Counsellor of the Embassy of the Republic of Kazakhstan to the KR, and First Counsellor of the Embassy of Hungary in the Kyrgyz Republic Mr. Daróczy László.

During the kick-off meeting, all partner universities were presented, the main objectives and plans of the project were considered, and organisational issues were discussed.