On September 24, MGIMO University hosted the Day of Indonesia, jointly organized by the MGIMO ASEAN Centre and the Embassy of the Republic of Indonesia in Moscow. This year’s agenda focused on strategic autonomy and the partnership between Russia and Indonesia amid the emergence of a new global order. Dr. Jerry Sambuaga, Vice Rector for External Affairs at Universitas Pelita Harapan, was the Guest of Honour at the Day of Indonesia.

At the opening ceremony, the participants were welcomed by H.E. Jose Antonio Morato Tavares, Ambassador Extraordinary and Plenipotentiary of the Republic of Indonesia to the Russian Federation; H.E. Sergey Tolchenov, Ambassador Extraordinary and Plenipotentiary of the Russian Federation to the Republic of Indonesia; Mr. Vadim Velikanov, Deputy Director of the Third Asian Department of the Ministry of Foreign Affairs of the Russian Federation; and Prof. Dr. Andrey Baykov, MGIMO Vice Rector for Research Affairs. The ceremony was moderated by Dr. Ekaterina Koldunova, Director of the MGIMO ASEAN Centre and Associate Professor at the MGIMO Department of Asian and African Studies.

The central event of the opening programme was a public lecture by Dr. Jerry Sambuaga entitled “Indonesian Foreign Policy: Preserving and Strengthening the Principle of an Independent and Active Foreign Policy.” The Guest of Honour outlined the key features of Indonesia’s foreign policy based on this principle and examined its importance for safeguarding national interests and preserving the country’s freedom of action in a changing international environment.

The academic programme of the Day of Indonesia continued with the conference “Indonesia’s Strategic Autonomy in a Multipolar World,” which brought together representatives of Russian and Indonesian universities, research institutes, and expert and analytical centres. The participants discussed Indonesia’s foreign policy strategy, its relations with major global powers, the development of the Russia–Indonesia partnership, and new opportunities for cooperation within BRICS.

The first conference session, “Great-Power Balancing: Russia, the United States, and China in Indonesia’s Foreign Policy Strategy”, focused on Indonesia’s place in the emerging global order. The discussion addressed the evolution of Indonesia’s foreign policy principles, diplomatic mechanisms for strengthening ties between Russia and Indonesia, Jakarta’s strategy amid great-power competition, the institutional diversification of Indonesian foreign policy, and the country’s potential contribution to shaping a new BRICS agenda.

The second session, “Diversifying Ties: Economic Drivers of the Russia–Indonesia Partnership”, focused on practical areas of bilateral cooperation. The speakers examined the current state of the Indonesian economy and Russia–Indonesia relations, the opportunities and challenges associated with Indonesia’s participation in BRICS, the role of private institutions in fostering economic growth, the digital dimension of the strategic partnership, prospects for cooperation in the energy and LNG sectors, as well as the potential and existing limitations of bilateral cooperation in the space sector.

The sessions featured Experts from the MGIMO ASEAN Centre and the MGIMO Department of Diplomacy, as well as Representatives of Universitas Pelita Harapan, Parahyangan Catholic University, Universitas Bakrie, HSE University, the Institute of China and Contemporary Asia of the Russian Academy of Sciences, the Primakov National Research Institute of World Economy and International Relations of the Russian Academy of Sciences, and the Indonesia-based Analysis Centre for BRICS and ASEAN.

A separate part of the programme was devoted to the presentation of the studybook “Political History of Indonesia,” authored by Dr. Nikita Kuklin, Expert at the MGIMO ASEAN Centre and Associate Professor at the MGIMO Department of Asian and African Studies. The discussion of the publication featured Dr. Eduardus Lemanto, Executive Director of the Analysis Centre for BRICS and ASEAN and Lecturer at the Indonesian National Police College.

Throughout the day, guests also had the opportunity to visit an exhibition of Indonesian art and culture. The Day of Indonesia concluded with a cultural programme at the MGIMO Small Stage. The programme featured Performers from the Kirana Nusantara Dance Studio, Members of MGIMO’s Indonesian community, and Russian students studying Indonesian language and culture. The concert programme was followed by a reception featuring traditional Indonesian cuisine.

The Day of Indonesia at MGIMO represented another contribution to the development of academic, expert, and cultural dialogue between Russia and Indonesia. The event also provided an opportunity to discuss ways to enrich the bilateral strategic partnership with new areas of practical cooperation.