On the sidelines of the annual meeting of the Association of State Universities and Research Centers of the Caspian Sea Countries, which is being held in Astrakhan, Russia, the President of The University of Guilan, in a meeting with the Consul General of the Islamic Republic of Iran in Astrakhan, Russia, announced the readiness of The University of Guilan to create university courses related to maritime economy. 
Dr. Mohammad Doostar, chancellor of The University of Guilan and head of the delegation of the Islamic Republic of Iran to the annual meeting of the Association of State Universities and Research Centers of the Caspian Sea Countries, emphasized the importance of using the capacities of the Caspian Sea to increase interactions and joint scientific and educational activities between the universities of Iran and Russia and stated that the University of Guilan is ready to cooperate more to improve the level of cooperation and also to expand the university's research activities on issues related to the Caspian Sea.
Mehdi Akochikian, the Consul General of the Islamic Republic of Iran in Astrakhan, Russia, also said in this meeting that considering the international developments, it is appropriate for Iranian universities, especially The University of Guilan, to focus on research activities on various topics of the Caspian Sea.