26.11.2021

November 26 saw the last day of the ASEAN Week 2021 in MGIMO, a whole series of cultural, educational and scientific events dedicated to Southeast Asia, which is organized annually by the Southeast Asia Club MGIMO and the ASEAN Centre.

During the whole week students and guests of the University had a chance to take part in workshops, a round table discussion and a diplomatic game dedicated to various aspects of ASEAN countries. A cultural evening concluded the series with great performances held at MGIMO New Building Hall.

Dr. Andrey Baykov opened the evening: in his introductory speech he stressed the idea that with the annual ASEAN Week, MGIMO witnesses the formation of a real community both inside and outside the University of people interested in the Southeast Asian region. A growing interest is seen from year to year, as every ASEAN country has its own unique and original culture. The Head of Information, Social, and Cultural Division of the Embassy of Indonesia Mr. Nanang Syaiful Fadillah in his welcoming remarks thanked MGIMO University, the ASEAN Centre and the Southeast Asia Club for this initiative and briefly described the history and peculiarities of gamelan, a traditional Indonesian musical performance, which was to be performed later in the evening. ASEAN Centre Acting Director Dr. Ekaterina Koldunova wished the guests a pleasant evening, full of creative presentations by students and professional performers.

The evening begun with a musical performance of scenes from wayang, a traditional puppet-shadow play, performed by a Russian group “Gamelan Dadali”, the only gamelan group in Russia. The artists showed the instruments, performing techniques and sounds of a traditional gamelan orchestra. Moreover, the program included songs in Vietnamese, Lao, and Indonesian, as well as various dances. The event culminated with the performance by student musical band Live Music Club MGIMO.

Among the guests were the representatives of the Embassy of Indonesia in Moscow, students and lecturers of MGIMO and other institutions, such as Institute of Asian and African Countries (Lomonosov Moscow State University), Moscow State Linguistic University, Russian Academy of National Economics and Public Administration, Plekhanov Russian Economic University, Peoples’ Friendship University of Russia, Institute of Oriental Countries, and others. The event was covered by many Indonesian, Vietnamese and other foreign media, such as Antaranews, Republika, Vietnam+, Bao Tin Tuc, VNews, Eurasia Diary.

ASEAN Centre expresses its deep gratitude to the Embassy of Indonesia in Moscow and the “Gamelan Dadali” group for the kind support of the cultural event, and to the Southeast Asian Club for the smooth organization of the ASEAN Week.