ASEAN Centre in MGIMO-University the MFA of Russia

On June 8 Centre for Comprehensive European and International Studies (CCEIS, National Research University Higher School of Economics) held an online Expert Seminar “Economic Diplomacy of Southeast Asian Countries amid the U.S.-China decoupling”. Dr. Victor Sumsky, ASEAN Centre leading expert, was the seminar official discussant. Dr. Ekaterina Koldunova, ASEAN Centre Acting Director, also joined the discussion.

On June 4, 2021 New Era University (the Philippines) held an online opening ceremony of its Russian Studies Center. Dr. Victor Sumsky, ASEAN Centre Senior Expert, and Dr. Ekaterina Koldunova, ASEAN Centre Acting Director, Associate Professor at the Department of Asian and African Studies (MGIMO) participated in the event.

Part 1. Interview with the Ambassador Extraordinary and Plenipotentiary of the Republic of the Philippines to the Russian Federation. ASEAN Centre presents a special interview with H.E. Carlos D. Sorreta, Ambassador Extraordinary and Plenipotentiary of the Republic of the Philippines to the Russian Federation, in commemoration of the 45th anniversary of the diplomatic relations between Russia and the Philippines. This interview opens dialog series with Ambassadors of the ASEAN member states to Russia, in which the guest speakers touch upon different bilateral relations issues, the most interesting cooperation projects and the Ambassadors’ personal experience and impressions on Russia.

The history of Russian-Cambodian relations over the past 65 years has passed through several stages. The first stage, which can be defined from 1955 to 1970, is linked with the name of Prince Norodom Sihanouk and his politics. Sihanouk, as an outstanding political figure in Cambodia, was fully aware of the extremely precarious situation of his country, which was at the center of political conflicts in Indochina, when civil conflicts and military operations began in neighboring Vietnam and to the north in Laos.

On June 3, 2021 an international conference dedicated to the perspectives of Russia-ASEAN cooperation after the COVID-19 pandemic was held by the Center for Russia's Strategy in Asia at the Institute of Economics of the Russian Academy of Sciences. ASEAN Centre Acting Director Dr. Ekaterina Koldunova was one of the conference speakers.

On June 2, 1976 the USSR and the Philippines officially established their diplomatic relations. To commemorate the date exactly on June 2, 2021 ASEAN Centre together with Benilde School of Diplomacy and Governance held the Second webinar of ‘Moscow to Manila’ series of online meetings dedicated to the 45th anniversary of Russia-Philippines diplomatic relations.