ASEAN, Russia commit to strengthening strategic partnership

ASEAN member states and Russia reaffirmed commitments to strengthen their strategic partnership at the 19th ASEAN-Russia Senior Officials Meeting (ARSOM) held recently in Siem Reap, Cambodia.

At the meeting (Photo: VNA)

Taking place on April 27 and 28, the meeting was co-chaired by the Secretary of State and ASEAN-Cambodia’s SOM Leader, Kung Phoak, and Russian Deputy Minister of Foreign Affairs and SOM Leader, Andrei Rudenko; and was attended by ASEAN SOM leaders, the ASEAN Secretariat, and Timor-Leste as observer.

At the event, Kung Phoak underlined the two sides’ long-standing friendship and the importance of Russia’s firm support for ASEAN Centrality which has been reflected in its active participation in ASEAN-led mechanisms to promote peace, security, stability and socio-economic growth and prosperity in the region. 

He said the bloc and Russia need to further strengthen cooperation within the three pillars of the ASEAN Community to advance their partnership to new heights.

Andrei Rudenko reaffirmed Russia’s continued commitment to further enhancing the relations and support for the ASEAN Centrality in the evolving regional architecture to uphold peace, stability and prosperity in the region.

Participating senior officials from both sides noted the progress made in the implementation of the ASEAN-Russia Comprehensive Plan of Action (2021-2025) which guides their endeavours in realising mutually beneficial objectives of the partnership. They said they are committed to the full implementation of the remaining action lines.

The meeting highlighted the importance of reinforcing cooperation in a number of key priority areas such as politics and security, countering terrorism and transnational crime, ICT security, economy, industry, finance, science and technology, smart cities, energy, disaster management, health, connectivity, Initiative for ASEAN Integration, and food security.

Participants also exchanged views on matters of common interest and concern relating to the sides’ interactions in the regional fora and regional architecture in the Asia-Pacific, stressing the importance of enhancing joint work in the post-COVID-19 recovery period./.

VNA