Co-Chairs’ Press Release The 14TH ASEAN-RUSSIA Joint Cooperation Commitee Meeting

18-Mar-2016

Source:  ASEAN Secretariat News

Co-Chairs’ Press Release The 14TH ASEAN-RUSSIA Joint Cooperation Commitee Meeting

        The 14th Meeting of the ASEAN-Russia Joint Cooperation Committee (14th ARJCC) took place at the ASEAN Secretariat in Jakarta on March 16th 2016. The meeting was co-chaired by H.E. Latsamy Keomany, Permanent Representative of the Lao PDR to ASEAN, Chairman of the Committee of Permanent Representatives to ASEAN, and H.E. Mr. Mikhail Galuzin, Ambassador of the Russian Federation to Indonesia and to ASEAN. The ARJCC was attended by the Permanent Representatives of ASEAN Member States to ASEAN, representatives from respective Permanent Missions to ASEAN, the inter-agency delegation from Russia and representatives of the ASEAN Secretariat.

        Apart from its usual agenda in reviewing the cooperation and exchanging views on the issues of common concern, more attention was also paid to the preparation for the Commemorative Summit on the occasion of the 20th Anniversary of the ASEAN-Russia Dialogue Partnership to be held on 19-20 May 2016 in Sochi, Russia, particularly the elaboration of its final documents as well as efforts to endorse the Russian project proposals to be implemented during the commemorative year.

        Both sides briefed each other on the developments in ASEAN and the Russian Federation, discussed, among others, their cooperation in the fields of Security, Economy, Energy, Science and Technology, Social-cultural, Education, Agriculture, Narrowing Development Gap, Connectivity and Transport. At the meeting, the Russian representatives made presentations on their project proposals covering the areas of biological safety, biotechnology, legal support, maritime environment, universities interactions, youth contacts and others, which will be submitted to ASEAN Member States for further consideration.

        The meeting adopted the Draft Guidelines for Appraisal, Approval, Financing and Reporting on ASEAN-Russia Joint Activities and Cooperation Projects Funded by the ASEAN-Russia Federation Dialogue Partnership Financial Fund (ARDPFF) and its annexes. Both sides also expressed their determination to increase the efficiency to maximize the use of the ARDPFF in accordance with the newly adopted guideline as well as to step up proactive approach to initiate new projects.

        The meeting also appreciated activities conducted by the ASEAN Center in the MGIMO University on promoting public awareness about ASEAN and deepening interaction between ASEAN Member States and Russia.

        ASEAN and Russia noted with satisfaction the progress in their Dialogue Partnership and confirmed their commitment to promote it further.

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