ASEAN, Russia to move towards strategic partnership
The 15th Meeting of the ASEAN-Russia Joint Cooperation Committee took place on 8 March 2017 at the ASEAN Secretariat in Jakarta. Ambassador Latsamy Keomany, Permanent Representative of Lao PDR to ASEAN and Ambassador of Russia to ASEAN Mikhail Galuzin co-chaired the meeting.
The meeting focused on the implementation of the outcomes of the Commemorative Summit on the occasion of the 20thAnniversary of ASEAN-Russia Dialogue Partnership held on 19-20 May 2016, in Sochi, Russia. In particular, the meeting looked at the Sochi Declaration and Comprehensive Plan of Action to Promote Cooperation between ASEAN and Russia 2016-2020 in view of moving towards a strategic partnership for mutual benefit.
Both sides briefed each other on the developments in ASEAN and Russia, and discussed cooperation in the areas of political and security, economy, energy, science and technology, education, connectivity, transport, and agriculture among others. The Russian side presented on the project proposals covering cooperation in energy, science and technology, environment, and sustainable development. The meeting adopted the project proposal on innovative agriculture technologies, and expressed their determination to increase the efficiency of the ASEAN-Russia Dialogue Partnership Financial Fund. Moreover, a number of joint activities to commemorate the 50th Anniversary of ASEAN in 2017 were discussed and agreed upon.
Both sides appreciated activities of the ASEAN Centre in MGIMO University in Moscow that aimed at deepening socio-cultural and people-to-people interaction between ASEAN Member States and Russia.
Press-release at the official ASEAN web-site