ASEAN Centre in MGIMO-University the MFA of Russia

Центр АСЕАН при МГИМО

Myanmar Diplomats Visit the ASEAN Centre

Myanmar Diplomats Visit the ASEAN Centre

20.09.2013

On the 18th of September 2013, a meeting with a group of diplomats from Myanmar was held in the ASEAN Centre.The diplomats were in Moscow to attend an advanced training course at the Diplomatic Academy of the Russian Foreign Ministry.

The diplomats were welcomed by the Vice-Rector for International Cooperation and Public Relations, Andrei Silantiev. Vice-Rector Silantiev told the guests about the history and current state of MGIMO, its structure, and its experience in organising various  international educational, academic and business forums. The latter were of particular interest to the Myanmarese delegation, as Myanmar will assume chairmanship of ASEAN in 2014.

Head of the Department of Language Training and the Bologna Process Gennady Gladkov spoke in detail about language instruction at MGIMO. Director of the ASEAN Centre Victor Sumsky and Associate Professor of the Department of Asian and African Studies Ekaterina Koldunova talked about Russia"s assessment of the prospects of cooperation with ASEAN, and how it perceives the role of ASEAN in regional processes. They also discussed the ASEAN Centre"s work with regard to the promotion of people-to-people ties between Russia and the Southeast Asian countries.

On their part, the Myanmarese diplomats expressed their hope for the expansion of educational ties between Myanmar and Russia. Such cooperation is extremely important for Myanmar at present, given the large-scale domestic reforms currently being undertaken in the country, and the active inclusion of Myanmar in international processes.

The ASEAN Centre