27 September 2019
September 26th—27th, MGIMO welcomed a delegation of Australian researchers. The visit took place in the framework of the long-running cooperation between MGIMO and the Australian National University.
The delegation comprised Michael Wesley, Dean of the College of Asia and the Pacific and Professor Hugh White from the Australian National University. During their visit, the guests attended a meeting with the participation of MGIMO’s Vice-Rector for Graduate and International Programs, Andrey Baykov, the Ambassador of Australia in Moscow Graeme Meehan and the Australian Deputy Head of Mission in Russia, Jill Collins. Also attending on MGIMO’s side were the Director of the ASEAN Center Viktor Sumsky, the Director of the Center for Integrated Sinology and Regional Projects Alexey Voskresensky and the Associate Professor of the Department of Oriental Studies, the Deputy Dean of the School of International Relations (Graduate Programs), and Leading Expert at the ASEAN Center, Ekaterina Koldunova .
The sides discussed the relations between MGIMO and the Australian National University, which date back to 2017, the year of the 75th anniversary of the beginning of diplomatic relations between Russia and Australia, when a memorandum of understanding was signed by the two universities. As part of their collaboration, prominent Russian and Australian experts were invited to give lectures on a rotational basis in both countries. The representatives of both universities agreed to keep on organizing these lectures and discussed the different paths for expanding cooperation through student exchanges, expert dialogues and joint publishing activities.
The visiting delegation also participated in a round table devoted to current political dynamics in the Asia-Pacific, which was kicked off by Andrey Baykov and Ambassador Meehan. The Director of the ASEAN Center Viktor Sumsky, the Director of the Center for Integrated Sinology and Regional Projects Alexey Voskresensky, the Professor of the Department of International Relations and Foreign Policy of Russia Yuri Dubinin, the Deputy Director of IMEMO RAS A. Lomanov, the Associate Professor of the Higher School of Economics M. Karpov, the Senior Researcher of the Higher School of Economics V. Kashin, the Associate Professors of the Department of Oriental Studies A. Kireev and K. Efremov all made presentations at the conference. The discussion was moderated by the Associate Professor of the Department of Oriental Studies, also Deputy Dean of the School of International Relations (graduate programs) and Leading Expert at the ASEAN Center Ekaterina Koldunova .
At the end of the visit, Professor Hugh White delivered an open lecture to students of the School of International Relations on the strategic future of East Asia and what could happen after the departure of America. After his talk, the guest took questions from the audience. Staff from the Australian Embassy in Russia and representatives of the Russian Foreign Ministry attended the lecture.
— See the MGIMO web-site for russian version
