JAKARTA, 4 May 2015 – The 13th Meeting of the ASEAN-Russia Joint Cooperation Committee (ARJCC) took place at the ASEAN Secretariat in Jakarta on April 29th and was co-chaired by H.E. Dato’ Hasnudin Hamzah, Permanent Representative of Malaysia to ASEAN and H.E. Mr. Mikhail Galuzin, Ambassador of the Russian Federation to Indonesia and ASEAN. The ARJCC was attended by the Permanent Representatives of ASEAN Member States, Deputy Secretary-General of ASEAN for Political-Security Community, H.E. Mr. Hirubalan V P, the inter-agency delegation of the Russian Federation and representatives of the ASEAN Secretariat.

ASEAN and Russia reviewed the implementation of the Comprehensive Programme of Action to Promote Cooperation for 2005-2015 (CPA) which will expire at the end of 2015 and looked forward to the finalization of a new ASEAN-Russia document which would further enhance cooperation for mutual benefit.

Both sides discussed developments, among others, on areas of political-security; economy; socio-culture; science and technology; and connectivity, and agreed that there is potential for greater collaboration. The Meeting particularly emphasized the importance of economic cooperation and in this context discussed perspectives for building stronger people-to-people ties between the ASEAN and Russia business communities. In this regard, the Meeting took note of Russia’s proposal to hold an ASEAN-Russia Business Summit at the margins of the 27th ASEAN Summit in Kuala Lumpur this November and agreed to explore the idea of designating the year 2016 as the Year of Culture of Russia in ASEAN and ASEAN Culture in Russia.

ASEAN and Russia acknowledged, while reviewing the ASEAN-Russian Federation Dialogue Partnership Financial Fund (ARDPFF), the extensive cooperation that exists between ASEAN and Russia and agreed to work together to streamline and simplify the appraisal, approval, financing and reporting of the joint projects funded by the ARDPFF. The Meeting agreed that this would facilitate and expedite the implementation of the current CPA and its successor document.

Both sides adopted several joint ASEAN-Russia projects such as Promoting of ASEAN-Russia Cooperation in Food Science and Technology; the Russian Language Course for ASEAN Tour Operators; and Energy Dialogue between ASEAN and Russia on Renewable Energy and Clean Energy Technologies.

At the meeting, ASEAN and Russia discussed the activities of the ASEAN Centre which is located in MGIMO University and approved the Annual Report of the Operation of the ASEAN Centre 2014, the ASEAN Centre Statement of Expenditure 2014 and the Draft ASEAN Centre Summary Record of the Executive Board. They also took note of the Indicative Work Plan of the ASEAN Centre for 2015.

Both sides noted with satisfaction the progress of its Partnership and its achievements in preparation for the 20th Anniversary celebration of ASEAN-Russia Dialogue Relations in 2016.