RIAC Experts Discuss Russia–ASEAN Cooperation

On December 22, 2025, the Russian International Affairs Council (RIAC) held a roundtable discussion, “Russia–Southeast Asia Partnership in a New Era.” The discussion focused on the role of Russia and ASEAN in each other’s foreign policy priorities, as well as on the opportunities and constraints shaping bilateral engagement amid the ongoing transformation of the international system. Special attention was paid to cooperation along the EAEU–ASEAN track in connection with the signing on December 21, 2025, of a free trade agreement between the Eurasian Economic Union (EAEU) and Indonesia.

Opening remarks were delivered by Yevgeny Zagaynov, Permanent Representative of the Russian Federation to ASEAN; Andrey Lyamin, Deputy Director of the Department for Asian and Pacific Cooperation at the Russian Ministry of Foreign Affairs; and Dmitry Yezhov, Head of the International Cooperation Division at the Eurasian Economic Commission’s Department for Integration Development.

On December 22, 2025, the Russian International Affairs Council (RIAC) held a roundtable discussion, “Russia–Southeast Asia Partnership in a New Era.” The discussion focused on the role of Russia and ASEAN in each other’s foreign policy priorities, as well as on the opportunities and constraints shaping bilateral engagement amid the ongoing transformation of the international system. Special attention was paid to cooperation along the EAEU–ASEAN track in connection with the signing on December 21, 2025, of a free trade agreement between the Eurasian Economic Union (EAEU) and Indonesia.

Opening remarks were delivered by Yevgeny Zagaynov, Permanent Representative of the Russian Federation to ASEAN; Andrey Lyamin, Deputy Director of the Department for Asian and Pacific Cooperation at the Russian Ministry of Foreign Affairs; and Dmitry Yezhov, Head of the International Cooperation Division at the Eurasian Economic Commission’s Department for Integration Development.

During the roundtable, Ekaterina Koldunova, Director of the ASEAN Center at MGIMO University, presented the report “Toward a New Agenda for Russia–ASEAN Relations,” prepared by the Center’s research team.

The discussion brought together representatives of government agencies, academic institutions, and the business community, including Ilya Kaminsky, Head of the Division for External Market Access and Trade Dispute Settlement at the EEC Department of Trade Policy; Daniyar Akkaziev, Executive Director of the Russia–ASEAN Business Council; Kseniya Shchikovskaya, Senior Expert at the EEC Department for Integration Development; Alexander Korolev, Deputy Director of the Centre for Comprehensive European and International Studies at the Higher School of Economics; Maria Duvanova, Adviser to the Russia–ASEAN Business Council; Vladimir Mazyrin, Head and Chief Research Fellow of the Vietnam and ASEAN Studies Centre at the Institute of China and Contemporary Asia of the Russian Academy of Sciences; Anna Pak, Associate Professor in the Department of International Economic Relations at RUDN University; Valeria Vershinina, Deputy Director of the ASEAN Centre at MGIMO University; Viktor Sumsky, Leading Expert at the ASEAN Centre at MGIMO University and Chief Research Fellow at the Primakov National Research Institute of World Economy and International Relations; Elena Pyltsina, Senior Research Fellow at the Vietnam and ASEAN Studies Centre of the Institute of China and Contemporary Asia; Kseniya Efremova, Leading Research Fellow at the same Centre and Associate Professor at MGIMO University; Nikita Kuklin, Expert at the ASEAN Centre at MGIMO University; Mikhail Stepanishchev, Secretary-Referent at the Embassy of the Russian Federation in the Socialist Republic of Vietnam; and Kira Tabunova, Expert at the ASEAN Centre at MGIMO University.

The roundtable was moderated by Dmitry Kiku, Deputy Director General of RIAC.