ASEAN Centre in MGIMO-University the MFA of Russia

Центр АСЕАН при МГИМО

“Priorities for Post-COVID-19 Recovery in ASEAN Countries: New Perspectives for Cooperation with Russia” — Institute of Economics, RAS Conference

03.06.2021

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.

The opening remarks were given by Institute of Economics Deputy Director Dr. Mikhail Lobanov, H.E. Chargé d’Affaires ad interim Ms. Ngo Quynh Mai and by Mr. Pavel Kalmychek, Deputy Director of the Department of Multilateral Cooperation and Special Projects, Ministry of Economic Development of the Russian Federation.

The key themes for discussion were impact of the COVID-19 pandemic on the economic development of Russia and ASEAN, the regional geopolitical and economic trends and the changing role of ASEAN in the integration processes. The discussants made an assessment of the 25-year old Russia-ASEAN partnership and highlighted key prospective spheres of cooperation in the post-pandemic world. The speakers stressed that Russia and ASEAN have a huge window of opportunity in medical cooperation, the delivery and joint production of Sputnik V vaccine, as well as for cooperation in food security, renewable energy and IT. Dr. Ekaterina Koldunova made an analysis of the role of ASEAN in the Russian ‘Pivot to Asia’ policy after the COVID-10 pandemic.