The 14^th Meeting of the ASEAN-Russia Joint Cooperation Committee (ARJCC) took place in Jakarta, Indonesia, on March 16, to discuss measures to increase bilateral cooperation in celebration of the 20th founding anniversary of their dialogue partnership.

The two sides agreed to enhance pragmatic collaboration, particularly in fields of joint interest such as the prevention of terrorism and cross-border crime, trade and investment, energy, transport, natural disasters and humanitarian aid, regional connectivity, science and technology.

They stressed the need to tighten coordination for the early completion of the Comprehensive Plan of Action (CPA) between 2016 and 2020, to submit to ASEAN and Russian leaders for approval in this year.

Delegates take photo at the event (Photo: VNA)

The Russian side said it treasures cooperation with ASEAN and expressed its support for the bloc to realise the ASEAN Community Vision 2025.

Representatives from ASEAN member states hailed Russia for participating in the group’s mechanisms to contribute to peace, stability, and security in the region.

They suggested the two sides outline specific measures to further cooperation across politics-security, economics, culture and society.

Addressing the event, Ambassador Nguyen Hoanh Nam , Head of the Vietnamese delegation to ASEAN, said Viet Nam will make active contributions to the development of ASEAN-Russia relations.

He suggested Russia support the central role of ASEAN as well as its efforts in promoting peace, stability, security, and safety of navigation and aviation in the East Sea ; implementing fully and effectively the Declaration on the Conduct of Parties in the East Sea (DOC) and quickly reaching a Code of Conduct in the East Sea (COC).

Russia officially became a full dialogue partner of ASEAN in 1996, and the country signed the Treaty of Amity and Cooperation in Southeast Asia (TAC) in 2004.

In 2005, ASEAN and Russia inked a joint statement on progressive and comprehensive partnership and adopted the CPA for 2005-2015.

(Source: VNA)