Illustrative image (Source: Internet) Jakarta (VNA) – The 17th meeting of theASEAN-Russia Joint Cooperation Committee took place in Jakarta, Indonesia onApril 2, focusing on seeking measures to speed up joint projects and activities.
At this ambassador-level meeting, the two sides lauded the upgradeof bilateral relations to strategic partnership in November 2018 and recognisedpositive outcomes in their cooperation in different areas over the years.
Currently, Russia is ASEAN’s eighth biggest trade partner andtenth biggest investor. Two-way trade has been increasing, reaching 16.79billion USD in 2017.
As many as 79 out of 139 action lines in the ASEAN-RussiaPlan of Action in the 2016-2020 have been implemented in various areas, frompolitics-security, economy, culture-society, to connectivity and developmentgap narrowing.
Alongside, ASEAN and Russia have conducted cooperation plansfor the 2016-2020 period covering energy, agriculture and food security, alongwith the action plan on science-technology-innovation for the 2016-2025 period.
The joint projects and activities have been funded by theASEAN-Russia Dialogue Partnership Financial Fund, which sees Russia’s annual1.5 million USD contribution.
ASEAN countries lauded the efficiency of the ASEAN Centre,the Moscow State Institute of International Relations (MGIMO) over the years,which positively contributes to the promotion of exchange and scientificcollaboration among universities and research centres of Russia and the ASEANcountries.
Russia affirmed that it considers ASEAN as one of the toppriorities in the country’s external policy, and highly values the central roleof the grouping in maintaining peace and stability in the region.
Russia pledged to support initiative and priorities ofThailand as the ASEAN Chair in 2019, while continuing supporting theassociation in implementing the ASEAN Vision 2025 and Master Plans in all threekey pillars, and strengthening cooperation in ASEAN-led mechanisms.
In the future, the ASEAN countries and Russia will implementthe rest action lines, fostering cooperation in areas of shared concern,especially in areas of Russia’s strength and ASEAN’s demand such as trade andinvestment facilitation, science-technology, digital economy, connectivity,development gap narrowing, smart city network building, personnel training, andclimate change.
The two sides agreed to realize cooperation proposals suchas the setting up of ASEAN-Russia dialogue partnership on disease preventionand control capacity building with Russia training 100 ASEAN experts in thefields.
They will conclude negotiations and sign a memorandum of understanding onaffiliation on natural disaster management, while organising the second meetingof the ASEAN-Russia Think Tank, the ASEAN-bilateral meeting onscience-technology cooperation, the education forum, the ASEAN-Russia culturalprogramme and the fifth ASEAN-Russia summit in 2019.
They will also strengthen cooperation in other areas such astrade and sports.-VNA
VNA
