05 May 2014 - The 12th Meeting of the ASEAN-Russia Joint Cooperation Committee (ARJCC) was held in the ASEAN Secretariat, Jakarta, on April 25 and was attended by the Permanent Representatives from ASEAN Member States, the delegation of the Russian Federation and representatives of the ASEAN Secretariat. The ARJCC was co-chaired by Mr. Dato’ Hasnudin Hamzah, Permanent Representative of Malaysia to ASEAN, and Mr. Mikhail Galuzin, Ambassador of the Russian Federation to Indonesia and to ASEAN. Philippine Permanent Representative to ASEAN Ambassador Elizabeth P. Buensuceso represented the Philippines during the meeting.
The Meeting reviewed the current status of the ASEAN-Russia cooperation including the progress achieved in the priority sectors of the Dialogue Partnership relations namely, the political and security, economic, science and technology, social and cultural ties as well as connectivity. The ARJCC Members also had an in-depth discussion on the future direction of ASEAN-Russia cooperation. In this context, both sides stressed that there is a necessity to draft a new Comprehensive Programme of Action (CPA) to promote cooperation between ASEAN and the Russian Federation for the period beyond 2015 which will serve as a key document of ASEAN-Russia relations. Both sides further agreed to review the time frame of the new CPA. The need to fully implement the provisions of the existing sectoral agreements such as the ASEAN-Russia Trade and Investment Cooperation Roadmap, plans of action in the sphere of energy, agriculture and food security, science and technology etc, was also emphasised.
The Meeting noted the progress achieved within the past year in ASEAN-Russia Dialogue Partnership. Among the joint activities carried out recently were the First ASEAN-Russia Youth Summit, the ASEAN-Russia Business Forum, visits of the Russian Business Mission to several ASEAN Member States, as well as concerts performed by the ASEAN-Russia Symphony Orchestra of Young Musicians, among others.
The Meeting 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 the consolidated draft Flowchart for the Appraisal, Approval, Financing and Reporting of the Joint Projects funded by the ARDPFF. It also agreed that this would facilitate and expedite the remaining work of the current CPA which will expire in 2015.
The Meeting adopted several joint ASEAN-Russia projects related to the application of nano-biotechnology, GLONASS/GPS and remote earth sensing technologies. The ARJCC also discussed the activities of the ASEAN Centre which is located in MGIMO University and noted the Annual Report of the Centre for the year 2013 as well as its Indicative Work Plan for 2014.
Finally, the Meeting exchanged views on a number of upcoming joint activities later this year, including the ASEAN-Russia Senior Officials’ Meeting, ASEAN Post-Ministerial Conference with Russia and the Second ASEAN-Russia Youth Summit. END