ASEAN-Russia relation expected to rise new height

The second ASEAN-Russia Summit, chaired by Vietnamese Prime Minister Nguyen Tan Dung, with the participation of Russian President Dmitry Medvedev and ASEAN leaders, was held in Hanoi on Oct.30.

The leaders reviewed recent developments in ASEAN-Russia relations.

They were satisfied at the significant achievements, particularly in the implementation of the Plan of Action to realise the Joint Declaration on ASEAN-Russia on Progressive and Comprehensive Partnership, as well as broadening cooperation in such areas as science and technology, culture, energy, disaster management, counter-terrorism and transnational crimes.

On future direction, the leaders reaffirmed their commitment to further intensify ASEAN-Russia progressive and comprehensive partnership, strengthening existing dialogue mechanisms towards elevating the relation to a new height.

ASEAN welcomed Russia’s support for its Community building efforts, strengthening ASEAN connectivity as well as its central role in the region. The two sides agreed to continue the effective implementation of the ASEAN-Russia Comprehensive Plan of Action (CPA) in order to foster cooperation in the 2005-2015 period.

The leaders agreed that ASEAN and Russia should employ concrete measures to broaden and deepen dialogue relations into reality, including the maintenance of the ASEAN-Russian Federation Dialogue Partnership Financial Fund (DPFF) and the launching of the ASEAN Centre in Moscow in June 2010; further promotion of trade-economic cooperation, including the possibility of establishment of an ASEAN-Russia Free Trade Area (FTA); as well as strengthening cooperation to address global challenges, especially climate change, environment, natural disasters and infectious diseases.

ASEAN appreciated Russia’s increasing role and expected the country to deeply engage in the evolving regional architecture for the sake of peace, security and development in the region. In that connection, ASEAN strongly supported Russia’s active participation in ASEAN-led regional fora, including the East Asia Summit (EAS), the ASEAN Defense Ministers’ Meeting Plus (ADMM+) and the Asia-Europe Meeting (ASEM).

The ASEAN and Russian leaders also exchanged their views on regional and international issues of common concern, in which they emphasised challenges facing the world that need to be handled only by stronger, concerted efforts at the global level.

On conclusion, the leaders issued the Joint Statement of the second ASEAN-Russia Summit, reaffirming the determination to elevate the ASEAN-Russia relation to a new height.

On the sidelines of the event, the Foreign Ministers of ASEAN countries and Russia signed the ASEAN-Russia Cultural Cooperation Agreement./.