Priorities Of Cooperation
- POST-2017 ASEAN-RUSSIA TRADE AND INVESTMENT WORK PROGRAMME
The work programme comprises 52 activities covering areas of trade facilitation, SMEs, promotion of services sectors and investment, tourism, agriculture, infrastructure, digital technologies. Currently, ASEAN and Russia are exploring on multiple projects to strengthen collaboration including maritime ports and smart cities.
Aside from the Post-2017 Roadmap, ASEAN and Russia have been enhancing collaboration in sectoral cooperation in science and technology, agriculture, energy, space, disaster management, culture and tourism sectors. In 2016, ASEAN and Russia agreed on the new ASEAN-Russia Agriculture and Food Security Cooperation Work Programme (2016-2020), the ASEAN-Russia Plan of Action on Science, Technology and Innovation (2016-2020), and the new ASEAN-Russia Energy Cooperation Work Plan (2016-2020).
- ECONOMIC COOPERATION BETWEEN ASEAN AND EAEU
The EAEU has been actively exploring trade and economic cooperation with ASEAN, in particular since the launching of the ASEAN Economic Community (AEC). At the 5th AEM-Russia Consultations on 5 August 2016, ASEAN welcomed Russia’s proposal for a joint feasibility study of a possible FTA between ASEAN and the EAEU. The Ministers tasked senior economic officials to further elaborate and work on this issue. In the following year, the Ministers noted the recommendations to build confidence through policy dialogues and activities under the Work Program before embarking on a joint feasibility study.
A Memorandum between ASEAN and EAU on Economic Cooperation (the MoU) was signed on 14 November 2018 in Singapore, at the sidelines of the 3rd ASEAN-Russia Summit by SG Dato Lim Jock Hoi and Chairman of the Board of the EEC Mr. Tigran Sargasyan. The MoU is considered as the first step in establishing closer cooperation between the EAEU and ASEAN. The MOU comprises a total of nine articles which lay the groundwork for enhanced economic cooperation and development of new areas of cooperation (i.e. customs procedures and trade facilitation; sanitary and phytosanitary; technical regulations; e-commerce; trade in services and investment, business development primarily for MSMEs; and other areas to be mutually agreed upon by the participants).
To implement the MoU, a Programme of Cooperation for 2019/2020 (the PoC) was endorsed by the Ministers at the 8th AEM-Russia Consultations in September 2019. The PoC consists of various activities ranging from High-Level Dialogue, Business Community engagements, joint events at the platform of international organization, and consultation between experts and exchange of knowledge.
At the 9th AEM-Russia Consultations on 28 August 2020, the Ministers endorsed the extension of the timeframe for the implementation of the PoC until 2025.
