President Armen Sarkissian delivered a lecture at the Tokai University: Armenia, which like Japan, learned to rise after falling, in the 21st century can be successful

In the framework of his working visit to Japan, President Armen Sarkissian was today at the Tokai University. President Sarkissian met with the leadership of the University and delivered a lecture. The Chancellor of Tokai University Kiyoshi Yamada noted that it was a great honor to host the President of Armenia and said, “I am confident that this is an important step forward toward expanding the relations betwen Armenia and the Tokai University. On behalf of our University, I wish your country every success.“

President Sarkissian expressed thanks for the invitation and noted that he would like to talk with the students about the future.“It is going to be a special future, because you are living in the period of great changes,“ the President underscored and added that this is a time when whatever was once perceived as science fiction today becomes a reality.

He referred to the Japanese writer, winner of the Noble Prize in literature Kenzaburō Ōe and said that read him with great interest in his younger years because his books transfered the reader into the future. According to the President, the life of the future will be very different because artirfical intelligence, digital technologies will totally transform the life; industry, healthcare, other areas will change too. “When we start using special mathematical tools or artificial intelligence or tools for managing great volumes of information, we will be able to achieve results much faster. It means that in 10 or 20 years, using artifical intelligence, we will be able to defeat the majority of the diseases which we have inherited.“

The President noted that gradually virtual life was gaining more space and with time, it would become more important. Even political life will become more interactive and technology dependent. For a better organization of virtual life the role of mathematical modeling and artificial intelligence will become more prominent. “Artificial intelligence will become a source of your organized knowledge. It will be with you every day, every moment, will provide you with the necessary information. Thus, artificial intelligence will change industry, manufacturing of machines, leisure, forms of teaching and learning in school and universities, our health, it will change the entire world,“ President Sarkissian noted.

“Every nation will go through that transformation. The world will change, our national interests will be different too, as well as geopolitics. We’ll never be the same. It will no longer be important how much gold or oil you have; the important thing will be how many ideas and how much knowledge you have, how smart and fast you are, ready to fight for your goals. And the process has started already.“ According to the President of Armenia, the new world is the world of startups. Young people, who have ideas, good education, are hardworking, know what’s going on in the world, are able to think and create startups, can become next Google or Apple.

“I would advise you to start you virtual journey, moving toward the future and coming back. Only then you will understand which road to take and what you need to do to become successful in the areas of culture, music, business, healthcare, and others. Along the way you will accompanied by huge volumes of information and its management, mathematical modeling, and artificial intelligence,“ President Armen Sarkissian said. He urged not to be afraid of artificial intelligence which will create millions of new jobs. Speaking about Armenia, President Sarkissian said that it is a small but a country of the 21st century.

“A small country but a global nation which is an advantage in the 21st century because Armenians have a global network. We have ancient history. We are an ancient people which went through multiple calamities and suffered much. If you know the history, you know that more than 100 years ago we were subjected to a genocide in the Ottoman Empire. But we are also a nation of survivors. We are fighters, people who fall and then rise again. This is the quality which will be required in the future,“ he said and added, “Even though we are a small nation, in the 21st century we too, have opportunities.

A nation which has every chance to become successful. I am confident that my people can be successful. The landlocked Armenia in the 21st century can be successful because it can become a harbor or a center for the development of technologies, mathematics, and artificial intelligence. In the new world, half of which is virtual, one can become a harbor for information and its processing. As a state, we have the opportunity if we work hard, have a vision, and are organized. Armenia, which like Japan, learned to rise after falling, can be successful.“

President Sarkissian invited Japanese students to Armenia not only to see ancient churches, amazing nature, enjoy people’s hospitality and delicious food but also to participate at the Seaside Startup project. “You will not only enjoy camp life but will also have the opportunity to win the Presidential Award which is handed to the best startup.“

The Tokai University is a private establishment with the headquarters in Tokyo. It was founded in 1942 and has over thrity thousand students, 1000 of them from abroad. The University offers higher education in the humanitarian as well as natural sciences. It also carries out student exchange programs with over 120 university and educational institutions in 40 countries of the world.