On September 16^th, 2021, Andrey Gubin, Head of the Asia-Pacific Center of the Russian Institute for Strategic Studies and professor of Far Eastern Federal University (FEFU), Russia, delivered an online keynote speech on “Challenges for Russia’s Foreign Policy in the Asia-Pacific Region” at the invitation of the Northeast Asian Research Center and the Northeast Asian Studies College of Jilin University. Professor Ba Dianjun, Director of the Academic Committee of the Northeast Asian Studies College of Jilin University, presided over the symposium. Wang Yanjun, Vice Dean of the Northeast Asian Studies College, attended and addressed the symposium, and Professor Xu Bo served as the on-site interpreter.

    Professor Gubin is a renowned Russian expert on Northeast Asia studies. Once serving as a member of the Committee on the Asia-Pacific Economic Cooperation of the Ministry of Foreign Affairs (Russia), he has in-depth research on international relations in the Asia-Pacific region and security issues in Northeast Asia.

    In his speech, Professor Gubin comprehensively analyzed challenges facing Russia’s foreign policy in the Asia-Pacific region from Russia-Us relations, Russian-Japanese relations, Russian-ROK relations, China-Russia relations, and Russia’s relations with some Southeast Asian countries. He also stressed that the situation in Northeast Asia today is being affected by the increasingly turbulent political process in the world and there is great potential for cooperation between Russia and China in stabilizing the security situation in Northeast Asia. Meanwhile, the U.S.-China relations are entering into all-round competition, which is also changing Russia’s foreign policy and attaching greater importance to China-Russia cooperation.

    In the Q&A section, Professor Gubin gave wonderful answers to the questions raised by teachers and students on Russia’s future policy in the Asia-Pacific region, the trend of Russian-U.S. relations, and changes in Russian-Japanese relations. Professor Ba Dianjun made comments on the lecture and expressed gratitude to Professor Gubin for sharing the research results.

    This academic report is a session of the High-end Symposium on Northeast Asia International and Regional Studies and also part of the lecture series on Russian studies. It has facilitated the teachers and students in understanding Russia’s foreign policy and broadening their international vision and is of great significance for promoting the academic exchange activities between the college and Russia.