“It Is Time for Oriental Studies” — Interview with Ambassador Extraordinary and Plenipotentiary Kirill Barsky

Abstract

Kirill Nozdrya, Deputy Editor-in-Chief, held an interview with Kirill M. Barsky, PhD (Candidate of Historical Sciences), Head of the Department of Diplomacy. Kirill M. Barsky graduated from MGIMO in 1989, he is now Ambassador Extraordinary and Plenipotentiary, Professor of the Department of Chinese, Vietnamese, Laotian and Thai Languages. For more than 20 years he had worked in the Ministry of Foreign Affairs. He actively contributes to strengthening Russian-Chinese relations, being Deputy Chairman of the RussianChinese Friendship Society. Kirill M. Barsky enjoys poetry and is a member of Russia Writers Union. He told International Aspect about the training of future diplomats at the Department of Diplomacy, as well as the impact of digitalization and information technologies on diplomacy. Kirill M. Barsky shared his opinion on the SCO prospects and Eurasian integration that is gaining momentum. He drew attention to “people’s diplomacy” that contributes to enriching the Russian-Chinese partnership. Kirill M. Barsky highlighted the qualities necessary for an orientalist and explained that mentorship and relations between generations of researchers are essential for strengthening the “core of an orientalist”. He recalled outstanding founders and continuators of MGIMO school of Oriental Studies and pointed out promising topics for young researchers.