The ASEAN Week 2020, which was hosted by the Moscow State Institute of International Relations (MGIMO) under the Ministry of Foreign Affairs of Russia, with a series of cultural, scientific and educational events, has concluded, helping to strengthen ASEAN-Russia exchanges and cooperation.

Vietnamese Ambassador to Russia Ngo Duc Manh  speaks at the international seminar
on Russia-ASEAN relations in the context of a dynamic region (Photo: VNA)

The highlight of the virtual event was an international seminar on Russia-ASEAN relations in the context of a dynamic region, which was attended by more than 20 rapporteurs from Russia, Indonesia, Thailand, Philippines, Singapore, Vietnam, Myanmar and Israel.

Addressing the event, Vietnamese Ambassador to Russia Ngo Duc Manh affirmed Vietnam has successfully completed its role as the Chair of ASEAN 2020, as it proactively proposed and implemented many practical initiatives, contributing to solving fundamental, core and long-term issues of the region.

The diplomat emphasised that as the Chair of ASEAN 2020, Vietnam has contributed significantly to deepening the Russia-ASEAN strategic partnership, affirming that Russia and ASEAN have shared fundamental common interests and is facing new challenges in the region and around the world.

He spoke highly of Russia's role and active participation in mechanisms where ASEAN plays a central role, such as the ASEAN Defence Ministers’ Meeting (ADMM) with dialogue partner countries (ADMM+), the  East Asia Summit (EAS), and the ASEAN Regional Forum (ARF).

As the Chair of the ASEAN Moscow Committee, Manh called for stronger cooperation between Russia and ASEAN in the fields of energy, industry, high technology, financial services, agriculture and people-to-people exchange.

According to Dr. Ekaterina Koldunova, an expert from MGIMO, the ASEAN Week aimed to strengthen relationships between young people, experts and scholars from Russia and ASEAN countries.

This year’s event took place on the occasion of the 10th founding anniversary of the ASEAN Centre under MGIMO.