On October 16, 2019 Ambassador of Sri Lanka to Russia H.E. Dr. Dayan Jayatilleka attended the lecture on Indo-Pacific concept within the framework of the course of public lectures "ASEAN Academic Days" at the invitation of Moscow State University of International Affairs (MGIMO). MGIMO is renowned as the most prestigious university in Russia for international political, legal and economic studies, with its history starting from 1944. This year MGIMO celebrates its 75-th anniversary.

Dr. Jittipat Poonkham, Director of International Studies Programme, Faculty of Political Studies, Thammasat University, delivered the lecture devoted to "A Menu of the Indo-Pacific Concepts: A View from Thailand". The speaker shared his views on the current dynamics and trends in political and economic development for ASEAN's engagement as a whole and of the individual ASEAN member-states in the Asia-Pacific and Indian Ocean Regions.
The lecture was also attended by Ambassador of Thailand to Russia H.E. Thanatip Upatising, and Dr. Victor Sumsky, Director of the ASEAN Centre. The discussion was moderated by Ekaterina Koldunova, the senior expert of MGIMO ASEAN Centre, who also serves as Deputy Dean of the School of International Relations and Associate Professor of Asian and African Studies Department.
Ambassador Jayatilleka and Dr. Victor Sumsky, Director of the ASEAN Centre, one of the main Russian experts on Asia-Pacific Region, made substantial interventions during the Q&A Session of the event.