23.04.2018
MGIMO Rector Prof. Anatoly Torkunov opened Plenary session of the Inaugural Meeting of the Network of ASEAN-Russia Think Tanks (NARTT) that began its two-day work at MGIMO University on April 20th. MGIMO Rector Prof. Anatoly Torkunov, Head of the Asian and Pacific Cooperation Department, MFA of Russia Mr. Alexey Ovchinnikov, former Foreign Minister of Indonesia H.E. Marty Natalegawa and Head of the Department of Diplomacy Prof. Aleksandr Panov addressed the participants representing Think Tanks of each ASEAN country and Russia.
In his welcoming speech Rector Torkunov noted the increasing growth of humanitarian and research contacts between ASEAN and Russia and the role of the ASEAN Centre in MGIMO University in this process. Before the ASEAN-Russia Commemorative Summit in Sochi in 2016 the ASEAN Centre organized the meeting of the ASEAN-Russia Eminent Persons Group (AREPG) that submitted its recommendations to the leaders of Russia and ASEAN member states. The ASEAN-Russia University Forums has been regularly conducted in Vladivostok on the margins of the Eastern Economic Forum (EEF) since 2016.
Mr. Alexey Ovchinnikov emphasized the fact that launching of the NARTT was a remarkable event. He also expressed the hope that ASEAN-Russia relations would further develop in all areas of cooperation and NARTT would become a platform for generating ideas for further advancing relations between two parties. He highlighted the positive experience of ASEAN in the harmonization of regional relations. As he noted, this experience must be preserved and developed further.
The keynote speeches by H.E. Marty Natalegawa and Prof. Aleksandr Panov at the Plenary Session attracted the keen interest of the guests. The keynote speakers outlined their vision of the regional situation and answered numerous questions from the participants of the meeting.
Inaugural Meeting of the Network of ASEAN-Russia Think Tanks will last two days and will conclude with the adoption of the set of recommendations to the ASEAN-Russia Senior Officials Meeting.
