On Tuesday, October 15, 2024, at 2:00 p.m., in Meeting Room 10, 10th floor, Golden Jubilee Administration and Information Center Building, Kasetsart University, Bangkhen Campus, Associate Professor Dr. Chamaipak Maiklad, Assistant to the President for International Affairs, along with university administrators, including Assistant Professor Dr. rer. soc. Supapatpimol Simlee, Assistant to the President for International Affairs; Assistant Professor Dr. Korakit Choomgrant, Associate Dean for International Affairs and Educational Quality Development, Faculty of Social Sciences; Dr. Worapong Singchat, Researcher, Animal Genomics and Bioresource Research Unit, Faculty of Science; Miss Pratthana Thirakiettikun, Head of the International Collaboration and Networking Section, and IAD representatives, warmly welcomed the delegation from the Institute of China and Contemporary Asia of the Russian Academy of Sciences (ICCA RAS), Russian Federation. The delegation was led by Professor Dr. Kirill Babaev, Director; Professor Dr. Vladimir Mazyrin, Head of the Center for Vietnam and ASEAN Studies; Professor Dr. Elena Burova, Researcher at the Center for Vietnam and ASEAN Studies; and Mr. Alexander Sidorov, First Secretary of the Embassy of the Russian Federation in the Kingdom of Thailand, on their official visit to Kasetsart University.

On this occasion, Associate Professor Dr. Chamaipak Maiklad delivered a welcoming speech and expressed her support for potential academic collaborations between the two institutions. Following this, Dr. Kirill Babaev, Director of ICCA RAS, noted that this visit marked the first meeting between ICCA RAS and Kasetsart University to discuss academic cooperation, representing a significant milestone in initiating a relationship between the two institutions, which had not previously collaborated. This discussion served as a special opportunity to establish a foundation for future cooperation between ICCA RAS and Kasetsart University, facilitating the exchange of perspectives on scientific and social science projects between Russia and Thailand.

The Institute of China and Contemporary Asia (ICCA), based in Moscow, Russian Federation, was founded in 1965 and is a leading research institute under the Russian Academy of Sciences (RAS). The institute specializes in the study of the politics, economics, culture, and development of East and Southeast Asian countries, with a particular focus on China and contemporary Asia. It also plays a key role in Russia’s Eastern policy, aiming to enhance understanding of the relationships between Russia, China, and countries in the Asian region, supporting international policymaking. Additionally, the institute provides consultation to Russian companies looking to expand into Asian markets, with Thailand being identified as a new and key partner for Russia.

During the meeting, both sides discussed opportunities to develop joint research projects, faculty and academic exchanges, joint seminars, international conferences, publications and scientific journals, scholarship promotion, and the exchange of Ph.D. students. The goal is to strengthen relations between the two institutions and share knowledge in various fields, such as science, social sciences, humanities, and disciplines like environment, energy, tourism, agriculture, and music. This collaboration will open new possibilities for advancing international research and education while establishing a strong network for future cooperation.

The meeting also explored the potential to expand academic cooperation across various faculties and campuses, with plans to coordinate with relevant departments to follow up on specific areas of collaboration. This may include signing an academic cooperation agreement (MOU), possibly starting with a joint academic seminar with the Faculty of Social Sciences, either online or in person, on topics such as International Relations and Laws or ASEAN Studies. After the meeting, Associate Professor Dr. Chamaipak Maiklad presented a token of appreciation to the executives from ICCA RAS, followed by a group photo to commemorate the occasion.