Programme of the Regional Conference
“A Changing Asia in a Transforming World”
Valdai Discussion Club in partnership with Institute of Strategic and International Studies (ISIS) Malaysia
Kuala Lumpur, November 21-22, 2018
Hotel Kuala Lumpur
08:30 – 09:00 Registration of Participants
09:00 – 10:00 Conference Opening
Introduction
Andrey BYSTRITSKIY, Chairman of the Board, Foundation for Development and Support of the Valdai Discussion Club
Tan Sri Rastam MOHD ISA, Chairman and Chief Executive, Institute of Strategic and International Studies (ISIS) Malaysia
Tatiana NAUMOVA, Deputy Head, Federal Agency for Press and Mass Media
Keynote Address
10:30 – 12:00 Session 1. Asia on the World Map of Security
The center of gravity of international politics and economy is rapidly shifting towards Asia. No serious international issues can be resolved without the active participation of Asian countries. Asia is changing and these changes overlap with changes in a broader global context. In Southeast Asia, international security issues loom as large as in North-East Asia, which traditionally attracts more IR scholars. The concept of “The Asian Paradox” indicates that political relations among countries of the region are not obstacles for economic development and cooperation. Here, the interests of the two main competing world powers – China and the US, intersect and can collide in the near future. What might the collective response be to these and other challenges? How do Russia and Asian countries see the region and its optimal future for mutual development?
Moderator
Speakers
Asian countries have become the main beneficiaries of globalization and in recent years, appear to be not only the manufacturing centre of the world but growing consumer center. Currently the international economy faces challenges of protectionism and trade wars, and the emergence and strengthening of closed regional groupings. At the same time, there is slow progress in the development of flexible and open multilateral agreements - Comprehensive and Progressive Agreement for Trans-Pacific Partnership (CPTPP) and Regional Comprehensive Economic Partnership (RCEP). Can this trend be reversed? How can its negative consequences be minimized? Does the global economy need new rules of the game or this is not right time for them?
Moderator
Speakers
Taisuke ABIRU, Senior Representative, Representative Office in Moscow, Japan Bank for International Cooperation (JBIC)
Choongjae CHO, Senior Director General, Korea Institute for International Economic Policy (KIEP)
Yaroslav LISSOVOLIK, Programme Director, Valdai Discussion Club
Alan ORTIZ, President, Philippine Council on Foreign Relations
Dato’ STEVEN CM Wong, Deputy Chief Executive, ISIS Malaysia
15:30 – 17:00 Session 3. Dialogue Russia-ASEAN and EEU – ASEAN: Prospects and Limits
Russia and ASEAN interact within the framework of their own regional integration institutions. This opens a window for opportunities while also creating obstacles. In parallel, the share of ASEAN states in Russian external trade as well as Russia’s in ASEAN external trade is modest. Officially, Russia and the Eurasian Economic Union (EEU) aim to develop dialogue with ASEAN and perhaps create a free-trade zone.
Is there a need to develop far-reaching dialogue between EEU and ASEAN as a union? If there is little chance for this now, what alternative forms of interaction can be proposed? Are there any backups to increase the volume of bilateral trade and investment? What are the most attractive areas for investment in the Russian economy for ASEAN states and vice versa?
Moderator
Speakers
Aileen S.P. BAVIERA, President and CEO, Asia Pacific Pathways to Progress Foundation, Inc
Hongyul HAN, Professor, Deptartment of Economics, Hanyang University
NGUYEN Vu Tung, President, Diplomatic Academy of Vietnam
Anthony Rogers ROY, Head, Department of International and Strategic Studies, Faculty of Arts and Social Sciences, University of Malaya
Viktor SUMSKY, Director of the ASEAN Center MGIMO University
09:00 – 11:00 Session 4. The Asia-Pacific Region (APR) and Indo-Pacific Region (IPR): How to Balance the Concepts?
So far the APR and IPR appear to be two competing approaches which are widely used by regional and external players. The idea of the IPR is currently viewed with suspicion in China, while being welcomed in India. On the other hand, the positive and not exceptionally anti-Chinese interpretation of the IPR may stimulate the active participation of India in Pacific affairs, and China in the region of the Indian Ocean. For Russia, the APR and IPR are significant as the neighbours of Big Eurasia. Does the IPR have a future as a strategic reality? What is the position of ASEAN states on this question? Is it possible to harmonize these two approaches, making them attractive to each other while taking into account the interests of main players?
Moderator
Speakers
Andrey FROLOV, Editor-in-chief of the “Arms export” magazine
Alexei KUPRIYANOV, Researcher of the Sector of International Organizations and Global Political Regulation of the Department of International Political Problems, IMEMO
Cheng-Chwee KUIK, Associate Professor, Strategic Studies and International Relations Program, National University of Malaysia (UKM)
Nandan UNNIKRISHNAN, Vice President, Senior Fellow at the Observer Research Foundation, New Delhi
ZHAO Huasheng, Professor, The Institute for International Studies, Fudan University
11:00 – 11:20 Closing Remarks
Keynote Address
Alexey VOLIN, Deputy Minister of Digital Development, Communications and Mass Media of the Russian Federation