Russian Minister of Foreign Affairs Sergei Lavrov attended an annual Russia–ASEAN ministerial meeting in Bandar Seri Begawan (Brunei-Darussalam).
The participants focused on issues related to improving the dialogue partnership between Russia and the ten ASEAN countries. They examined in detail the implementation of the Comprehensive Programme of Actions to Develop Cooperation between Russia and ASEAN to 2015, unanimously reaffirmed their intention to actively promote trade and economic and investment cooperation under the relevant roadmap agreed by the sides in 2012. They noted the results of the business forum held with the participation of representatives of official circles and the business communities of Russia and ASEAN countries in St Petersburg on June 22.
The ministers agreed on the need to expedite joint efforts in energy, science and technology, agriculture and emergency response. They also discussed the harmonisation of Russian and ASEAN plans to improve transport and information and communications infrastructure.
The ministers agreed that expanding cultural cooperation and contacts between people is a priority.
The similarity and agreement of Russian and ASEAN approaches to key global and regional problems were also affirmed. The ministers discussed the situation on the Korean Peninsula, the situation in Afghanistan and in the Middle East, primarily in Syria.
Source: Ministry of Foreign Affairs
