ASEAN, Russia vow to deepen strategic partnership

The ASEAN-Russia Joint Cooperation Committee (ARJCC) convened the 18th annual meeting at the ambassadorial level in Jakarta, Indonesia, on March 13 to discuss launching projects and promoting bilateral ties.
ASEAN, Russia vow to deepen strategic partnership ảnh 1Delegates at the meeting (Photo: VNA)
Jakarta (VNA) - The ASEAN-Russia Joint Cooperation Committee(ARJCC) convened the 18th annual meeting at the ambassadorial level inJakarta, Indonesia, on March 13 to discuss launching projects and promotingbilateral ties.

AmbassadorTran Duc Binh, head of Vietnam’s Permanent Mission to ASEAN, attended theevent.

At themeeting, both sides lauded positive achievements in their cooperation in thefields of politics-security, socio-economy and culture.

Two-waytrade hit 19.8 billion USD in 2018, up 17.9 percent from 2017. Meanwhile,Russian investment in ASEAN reached 58.03 million USD in 2018, compared to 47.75million USD recorded in the previous year.

Under the ASEAN-Russia Comprehensive Plan of Action (CPA)for the 2016-2020 period, 92 out of 139 lines of action were launched acrosspolitics-security, economy, socio-culture, connectivity and development gapnarrowing.

As ofJanuary 31, 2020, the ASEAN-Russia Dialogue Partnership Financial Fund (ARDPFF)had over 7.2 million USD, 1.5 million USD of which was contributed by Russiaeach year.

The twosides agreed to effectively use the fund in the near future.

Russiaaffirmed that ASEAN is one of the top priorities in its external policy, andpledged to support the bloc’s central role in maintaining regional peace and stabilityas well as actively join regional mechanisms led by ASEAN.

Russia alsowelcomed and vowed to support Vietnam’s initiatives and priorities during the VietnamASEAN Chairmanship Year 2020, including the organization of a meeting themed"Cooperation between the UN and regional and sub-regional organisations inmaintaining international peace and security" for the first time at the UnitedNations Security Council in January.

ASEAN memberstates spoke highly of activities by ASEAN Centre and the Moscow StateInstitute of International Relations (MGIMO) over the past time, which theysaid have contributed to promoting exchanges and science research collaborationbetween Russian universities and research centres, and those of ASEANcountries.

In the nearfuture, the two sides will further deepen bilateral strategic partnership by coordinatingclosely to complete the goals set in the CPA for the 2016-2020 period,determine focal cooperation areas to build the CPA for the 2021-2025 period,especially in trade and investment facilitation, science-technology, digitaleconomy, connectivity, development gap narrowing, Smart Cities Networkinitiative, human resources development, support for micro, small andmedium-sized enterprises, education, youth exchange, epidemic prevention,disaster management and climate change response.

ASEAN andRussia also agreed to push for the early signing of a Memorandum of Understandingon cooperation in disaster management in 2020./.

VNA

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