18 May 2018
ASEAN, Russia to pursue broader and deeper partnership
Source: ASEAN Secretariat News
MOSCOW, 18 May 2018 – Senior Officials from ASEAN and Russia reaffirmed their strong commitment to further broaden and deepen ASEAN-Russia Dialogue Partnership with the aim of elevating it to a greater height.
The 15th ASEAN-Russia Senior Officials’ Meeting (ARSOM) held today in Moscow, Russia, discussed ways and means to further strengthen ASEAN-Russia relation by developing practical cooperation to implement the Sochi Declaration of the ASEAN-Russia Commemorative Summit to mark the 20th Anniversary of the ASEAN-Russia Dialogue Partnership and Comprehensive Plan of Action to Promote Cooperation 2016-2020. The cooperation areas include countering terrorism, business, trade and investment, science and technology, transport connectivity, energy, agriculture, disaster management, education, cultural and people-to-people exchange.
The senior officials noted the encouraging progress of the status of implementation of the Implementation Roadmap of the ASEAN-Russia Eminent Persons Group Report as adopted in August 2017. The meeting welcomed the launch of the Network of the ASEAN-Russia Think-Tanks with its inaugural meeting held in April 2018 in Moscow. This mechanism aims to provide support on the process of building a strategic partnership between ASEAN and Russia.
Further, the senior officials exchanged views on regional and international issues of mutual interest and concern. ASEAN senior officials welcomed Russia’s continued active participation and contributions to the ASEAN-led fora and frameworks such as the ASEAN Regional Forum, the ASEAN Defense Ministers Meeting Plus and the East Asia Summit. In this regard, Russia reaffirmed the importance of and its continued support for ASEAN centrality in the evolving regional architecture.
The 15th ARSOM was co-chaired by Deputy Minister of Foreign Affairs of the Lao DPR Thongphane Savanphet, and Deputy Minister of Foreign Affairs of the Russian Federation Igor Morgulov. Senior representatives from ASEAN Member States and the ASEAN Secretariat also attended.
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