15 May 2023
On May 15th, the Secretary General of the Asia Cooperation Dialogue (ACD) Pornchai Danvivathana visited MGIMO University as part of his working visit to Russia.
The honored guest was welcomed by the Rector Anatoly Torkunov, the Vice-Rector for Students’ Development and International Affairs Stanislav Surovtsev and the Vice-Rector for Science and Research Andrey Baykov.
Anatoly Torkunov spoke about the expanding MGIMO’s presence in Asia and recently concluded agreements with universities in Myanmar and other countries of the continent.
Mr. Danvivathana shared the information concerning the activities of the organization he heads. Currently, it comprises 35 countries that are developing six priority areas of cooperation: connectivity; science, technology and innovation; education and human resource development; interrelation of food, energy and water security; culture and tourism; and, promoting approaches to inclusive and sustainable development.
The parties discussed a number of issues related to the activities of the ACD Joint Research Foundation dealing with student and faculty exchanges, as well as training in MBA programs and the future participation of MGIMO University and other Russian universities in the ACD University Network.
Among the topics discussed at the meeting was that of academic contacts and popularization of Asian languages at the University, namely, Chinese, Thai, Lao, Korean and Japanese.
Concluding the meeting, the guest shared the impressions of his trip to Russia, stressing the important role our country might play, from his point of view, in enhancing and improving the effectiveness of the Asia Cooperation Dialogue. Mr. Danvivathana noted that Thailand has already proposed Russia to consider the possibility of taking over the functions of the Organization’s Chair.
As part of his visit, Mr. Danvivathana was offered a tour at the MGIMO Museum and the Rare Book Museum, organized by the Head of the International Office Egor Andreev.
The guest was accompanied by the Senior Counsellor at the Asian and Pacific Cooperation Department (APCD) of the Russian Foreign Ministry Yevgeny Revyakin.
