The addition of MgO to a ruthenium catalyst dispersed on an inert activated carbon is found to improve the catalyst selectivity and stability in the dry reforming of methane to syngas. Steady-state and isotopic transient kinetic experiments carried out in a TAP reactor have revealed a cooperative interaction between the metal and the basic oxide in the CO2/CH4 reaction via a bifunctional mechanism. This specific effect is proposed to explain the discovered promoting effect.