HAIKOU /China/, April 2. /TASS/. The Hainan administration advocates the implementation of an independent educational project of the Moscow Power Engineering Institute (MPEI) in the province. This was reported by the Hainan Daily newspaper.

According to the newspaper, Hainan Governor Feng Fei spoke about this issue at a meeting with MPEI Rector Nikolay Rogalyov, who visited the island.

"We pay great attention to and actively support MPEI's efforts to establish an independent [training program] in Hainan," Feng Fei said. "I hope that your institute will make an innovative breakthrough in education based on its advantages, taking into account the needs related to the establishment of the Hainan Free Trade Port and [its] industrial development."

According to the governor, provincial authorities are ready to cooperate with MPEI on issues related to the implementation of this project. He expressed the hope that it will be an exemplary program demonstrating the Russian institute's high international status.

Rogalyov said that the development of an independent study program in Hainan will have a positive impact on the promotion of cooperation between China and Russia in the field of technology and in the humanitarian sphere. He noted that strengthening international ties among qualified specialists and in terms of technological cooperation, as well as the accelerated introduction of innovations will allow to achieve mutually advantageous results in the development of key industries in the southern Chinese province.

Hainan is increasing cooperation with other countries in science and education. Local authorities actively support initiatives involving opening branches of leading foreign universities on the island, which will train highly qualified specialists needed for the successful implementation of Hainan's free trade port development program. To this end, the province is actively forming a world-class research cluster.