ASEAN, Russia Review Progress Of Cooperation

JAKARTA, March 26 (Antara) ¿ The Association of Southeast Asian Nations (ASEAN) and Russia reviews the progress of their cooperation during the 16th Meeting of the ASEAN-Russia Joint Cooperation Committee (ARJCC) taking place at the Jakarta-based ASEAN Secretariat. The meeting held last Friday was co-chaired by Phongsavanh Sisoulath, Director General of ASEAN Department, Ministry of Foreign Affairs of the Lao PDR, and Alexander Ivanov, Ambassador of Russia to ASEAN, the ASEAN Secretariat said in a release posted on its website, Monday. The ARJCC focused on the implementation of the ASEAN-Russia Sochi Summit¿s decisions, particularly, the Sochi Declaration and Comprehensive Plan of Action to Promote Cooperation (CPA) 2016-2020. Both sides briefed each other on the developments in ASEAN and Russia, discussed cooperation in political and security area, economy, disaster management, science and technology, education and in other fields. The meeting emphasized the importance to further promote the ASEAN-Russia cooperation on fighting terrorism. The Russian side presented its ideas on launching practical cooperation on prevention and control of communicable diseases. The participants welcomed the decision to establish an ASEAN-Russia Working Group on Education. The representatives of ASEAN and the Russian sectoral agencies briefed the Meeting on the ongoing projects activities as well as joint projects under considerations. The ARJCC welcomed the launch of the Network of the ASEAN-Russia Think-Tanks with its inaugural Meeting to take place this April in Moscow. The prospects of cooperation between ASEAN and Eurasian Economic Union were given special attention. The ASEC briefed the participants on the finalisation of the draft Memorandum of Understanding between ASEAN and Eurasian Economic Commission. The ARJCC underlined the importance of the ASEAN-Russia business cooperation. The representatives of the ASEAN-Russia Business Council and the Roscongess Foundation presented their views to promote it further. Both sides highly appreciated activities of the ASEAN Center in MGIMO University in Moscow aimed at deepening socio-cultural and people-to-people interaction between ASEAN Member States and Russia. The ARJCC confirmed the ASEAN and Russia¿s mutual desire to elevate their relations to a strategic level and noted with satisfaction the progress in their Dialogue Partnership.