Vietnamese Minister of Foreign Affairs Bui Thanh Son (Photo: VNA) The event was co-chaired by Indonesian Foreign Minister Retno Masudi and herRussian counterpart Sergey Lavrov.
Delegates discussed cooperation to fight the COVID-19 pandemic, fosterrecovery and structure in Asia-Pacific during the meeting, which was organisedto mark the 30th founding anniversary of ASEAN-Russia relations.
Speaking at the event, Son said that the ASEAN-Russia partnership has beenincreasingly solid and trustworthy over the past 30 years and welcomed Russia’sstronger cooperation with the bloc.
He underlined that Vietnam always supports the enhancement of theASEAN-Russia strategic partnership to a new height and appreciates Russia’swillingness to transfer COVID-19 vaccine production technology and expandproduction in ASEAN, and capitalise on tourism cooperation to foster recoveryin the post-pandemic period.
Son asked the two sides to build trust and mutual understanding and upholdinternational law. The Vietnamese Minister highly valued Russia’s support forASEAN’s efforts in creating dialogues in ASEAN-led mechanisms.
He also affirmed ASEAN’s commitment to the effective implementation of theDeclaration on the Conduct of Parties in the East Sea (DOC), and promptcompletion of negotiations on an effective and practical Code of Conduct (COC)in the East Sea in line with international law and the 1982 UN Convention onthe Law of the Sea (UNCLOS).
For his part, Lavrov stressed that Russia and ASEAN are reliable strategicpartners that have collaborated with each other to effectively respond todifficulties and challenges amid uncertainties of the regional andinternational situation.
He also affirmed to support ASEAN’s central role in the regional structureand vowed to actively contribute to ASEAN-led mechanisms.
The Russian minister expressed his hope that the two sides would bolstercoordination and practical cooperation between ASEAN’s mechanisms andframeworks such as the Shanghai Cooperation Organisation (SCO) and the EurasianEconomic Union (EAEU).
At the event (Photo: VNA) They also consented to kick-start some consultation mechanisms between ASEANand Russia. The Russian side voiced its hope to discuss further the regionalstructure with ASEAN.
The two sides spoke highly of the successful organisation of the firstASEAN-Russia Consultations of the High Representatives for Security Issues onJune 28, and agreed to hold a dialogue on information technology security andcommunications issues, and to step up cooperation in disaster management.
The Russian side proposed the fourth ASEAN-Russia high-level meeting beorganised in October, 2021.
The two sides emphasised the need to continue to work together in push backthe spread of dangerous coronavirus variants and join hands in regional andinternational efforts to distribute COVID-19 vaccines to all people in theregion in safely, effectively and equitably, and efficiently carry outcommitments to COVID-19 response reached at the 15th East Asia Summit (EAS) heldin last November.
Russia pledged to continue organising training programmes for medicalworkers and providing technical and professional assistance, test kits,medicines and vaccines for ASEAN nations in the coming time.
ASEAN members agreed to closely join hands with Russia in promoting tradeand investment, maintaining regional supply chains, and fostering cooperationbetween the EAEU and ASEAN. They also supported Russia’s proposal to bolsteringtourism cooperation and issuing a joint statement in the field at the 16th EASscheduled to take place later this year.
Participants reiterated the importance of maintaining peace and stability,ensuring security and safety in the region. They affirmed the necessity toincrease dialogue and cooperation, build trust, uphold ASEAN-led mechanisms andmultilateralism, and strengthening the rule-based regional structure in whichASEAN plays a central role.
At the end of the meeting, Russia and Indonesia issued a statement of theco-chairs./.
VNA
