Hanoi (VNA) – Vietnam values the ASEAN– Russia partnership and is making efforts for the substantive and effectivedevelopment of the ties, stated Deputy Foreign Minister Nguyen Quoc Dung.

Dung made his statement while attending the15th ASEAN-Russia Senior Officials' Meeting in Moscow on May 17 and 18.

Speaking on behalf of ASEAN membercountries on farming and energy cooperation between the bloc and Russia, theVietnamese official said both sides are interested in the sectors which havepotential for partnership.

With its strength in terms of technology,Russia can strengthen affiliations with ASEAN in gas and oil, electricity, atomicenergy for civilian use and renewable energy, and energy security.

Concerning agriculture, he said both sidesshould facilitate the trade of produce of their strength, such as Rusia’s meat,butter, and temperate climate fruit, and ASEAN countries’ tropical fruit, nuts,tea and coffee.

Dung recommended ASEAN firms invest inRussia’s agricultural processing industry, following the examples of Vietnam’sTH True Milk company and Thailand’s CP Foods.

Talking about regional and internationalaffairs, Dung underscored positive changes but acknowledged potential security risks,including the East Sea issue.

He called on ASEAN and Russia to boostengagements at ASEAN-chaired frameworks and make efforts to build an open,transparent and rule-based regional architecture.  

He mentioned ASEAN and China’s efforts inconducting result-oriented negotiation for an effective and legal binding Codeof Conduct in the East Sea, and expressed the hope that Russia will work withASEAN in handling challenges to regional peace and stability.

At the meeting, ASEAN member countries andRussia noted with satisfaction positive developments in bilateral cooperation,particularly the outcomes of implementing the ASEAN – Russia Action Plan for2016 – 2020.

They reiterated the importance of their progressiveand comprehensive partnership and agreed to bolster joint efforts to elevatethe ties to a strategic partnership.

Russia said that ASEAN is among the mostsuccessful regional blocs and affirmed its support for the bloc’s central rolein the region. The Russian side pledged to involve deeper in ASEAN mechanisms,like the East Asia Summit, ASEAN Regional Forum, and ASEAN Plus DefenceMinisters Meeting.

The ASEAN side said they believe inRussia’s consistent diplomatic policy toward the Asia-Pacific and SoutheastAsia, and welcome the country’s contribution to peace, stability andcooperation in the region.

The sides agreed to enhance their coordinationat ASEAN-led frameworks and forums and build mutual trust to address emergingchallenges.

They said they will stimulate affiliationin a number of sectors, including trade-investment, regional connectivity,infrastructure development, tourism, education, people-to-people exchange, andanti-terrorism.

As such, they planned to organise the ASEAN-RussiaYouth Summit in the Philippines this year as well as a business dialogue and ASEAN-Russia education forum as part of the Eastern Economic Forum in Russia’s Vladivostokin September.

Courses in Russia on capacity building forthe prevention of terrorism, drug and cybercrime, which train security officersin ASEAN, were also scheduled to take place.-VNA