Valdai Club

On November 27, Jakarta will host a Regional Conference of the Valdai Discussion Club in partnership with the Habibie Center, entitled “What are Asia’s Goals in the Asian Century?”.

Taisuke Abiru, Research Fellow, The Tokyo Foundation (TKFD), Project Head, Energy Issues and Japanese Foreign Policy, Leader of Japan-Russia strategic dialogue project:

The annual conference of Valdai Discussion Club serves a unique platform of dialogue where we could sense how the Putin administration sees main internal and foreign policy agendas through direct communications not only with Russia’s policy-makers and but also expert communities. Russia’s strategic and economic positions have still not been clearly defined yet in Asia-Pacific region. I expect that the upcoming Asia session of Valdai Discussion Club in Jakarta will give us a good clue to understanding where Russia’s interests lie and where we can cooperate in this region.

Ibrahim Almuttaqi, Head of ASEAN Studies Program at The Habibie Center:

I think the conference is very timely and relevant for Russia and the many Asian countries, including for Southeast Asia countries as we will soon embark towards an ASEAN Community. While Russia has already established good relations with many Asian countries, it will be very interesting to understand this in the context of the ever changing political economic landscape in the region: from the global economic slowdown, the South China Sea tensions, or even the increasing influence of China. It is in this connection that I am looking forward to have a better understanding of how different countries and actors perceive Russia and how, in turn, Russia perceives them.

Alexander Lukin, Head of the Department of International Relations, National Research University Higher School of Economics, Director, Centre for East Asian and Shanghai Cooperation Organization Studies, Moscow State Institute of International Relations (University), MFA of the Russian Federation:

The Valdai Discussion Club's international conference in Jakarta means both evidence of the Russian pivot to Asia and an important step on this way. For the first time such an influential non-governmental organization refers to the broad Asian expert community, and not only to the representatives of the nearest neighbors. This is a long-overdue step. Despite the fact that Russia because of its geographical position and historical destiny is an integral part of the Asia-Pacific region, other states of the region traditionally consider Russia as part of the West, first of all, Europe.

To change this perception it is necessary to familiarize our Asian colleagues with the historical role of Russia in Asia, and, more importantly, with a huge cooperation potential of our country, and to explain active and constructive role that Russia is playing in the Asia-Pacific region and even more important role in the future. And the Jakarta conference is certainly able to make a big step in that direction.

Xingming Pan, Director of Academic Committee, School of Advanced International and Area Studies, East China Normal University, Shanghai:

Russia as an Asia-Pacific country is an objective existence, yet her subjective identification of it needs to be further strengthened, and the appropriate policy initiatives also need to keep up. In the existing multilateral and bilateral mechanisms of Asia, Russia could further strengthen her role in the economy, security and regional governance of the region, while playing a more constructive role in creating new mechanisms. A strong and cooperative Russia is a positive factor to the peace and prosperity in Asia-Pacific. I expect the coming Conference in Jakarta will make a substantial contribution in Asia-Pacific 's peace and prosperity, while exploring Russia's new constructive role in this regard.