ASEAN, Russia issue Sochi Declaration

The ASEAN-Russia Commemorative Summit to mark the 20th anniversary of ASEAN-Russia dialogue partnership issues a Sochi Declaration (Photo: VNA)

Sochi, (VNA) – The ASEAN-Russia Commemorative Summit to mark the 20th anniversary of ASEAN-Russia dialogue partnership issued a Sochi Declaration, affirming their commitment to moving towards a strategic partnership for mutual benefit.

The following is the full text of the Declaration.

                                 SOCHI DECLARATION

of the ASEAN-Russian Federation Commemorative Summit to Mark the 20 th Anniversary of ASEAN-Russian Federation Dialogue Partnership

“Moving Towards a Strategic Partnership for Mutual Benefit”

WE, the Heads of State/Government of the Member States of the Association of Southeast Asian Nations (ASEAN) and the Russian Federation, gathered in Sochi, Russian Federation, on 19-20 May 2016 to comm emorate the 20th Anniversary of ASEAN-Russian Federation Dialogue Partnership;

RECOGNISING with appreciation the achievements made over the past 20 years of ASEAN-Russian Federation dialogue partnership and cooperation across a wide range of areas, including political, security, trade and economic, culture, people-to-people exchange and development cooperation, which have strengthened and enhanced the relations as well as regional peace, stability and prosperity;

ADHERING to the principles, purposes, shared values and norms stipulated in the Charter of the United Nations, the Treaty of Amity and Cooperation in Southeast Asia (TAC), the East Asia Summit (EAS) Declaration on the Principles for Mutually Beneficial Relations (Bali Principles), as well as recognising consistency of ASEAN-Russia cooperation with ASEAN processes, principles and norms such as ASEAN Centrality in the evolving regional architecture;

RECALLING our commitment under the Joint Declaration of the Heads of State/Government of ASEAN and the Head of State of the Russian Federation on Progressive and Comprehensive Partnership signed on 13 December 2005 in Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia and the Joint Statement of the Second ASEAN-Russia Federation Summit adopted in Hanoi, Vietnam on 30 October 2010;

ACKNOWLEDGING the significance of the implementation of the ASEAN-Russian Federation Intergovernmental Agreement on Economic and Development Cooperation of 2005, the ASEAN-Russian Federation Intergovernmental Agreement on Cultural Cooperation of 2010 and the Comprehensive Programme of Action to Promote Cooperation between ASEAN and the Russian Federation 2005-2015;

NOTING the on-going changes in the world and the increasing tendency towards multipolarity;

NOTING also that evolving regional security architecture should be open, transparent, inclusive, and rules-based in accordance with international law, including the principle of equality;

WELCOMING the establishment of the ASEAN Community in 2015 and Russia’s efforts within the framework of the Eurasian Economic Union (EAEU);

REAFFIRMING our commitment to building stronger, deeper and mutually beneficial relations between ASEAN and the Russian Federation towards regional peace, stability, and prosperity;

RECOGNISING the importance of the promotion and protection of human rights, including through practical steps, exchange of best practices and closer cooperation, in particular in international fora;

HAVING considered all aspects of the development of the ASEAN-Russian Federation dialogue partnership, we hereby agreed to undertake the following:

Strengthening of Dialogue Partnership

1. Further strengthen the Dialogue Partnership based on the principles of equality, mutual benefit and shared responsibility to promote peace, stability, security, prosperity, economic growth, sustainable development and social progress in the Asia-Pacific region with a view to working towards a strategic partnership;

2. Enhance high-level engagement and cooperation within the existing framework of the ASEAN-Russian Federation Dialogue Partnership and ASEAN-led mechanisms, such as East Asia Summit (EAS), ASEAN Regional Forum (ARF), and ASEAN Defense Ministers’ Meeting Plus (ADMM Plus);

Political and Security Cooperation

3. Reaffirm commitment to the principles and norms of international law enshrined in the UN Charter, the Treaty of Amity and Cooperation in Southeast Asia (TAC), including mutual respect for sovereignty and territorial integrity of States, non-interference in internal affairs, and the non-use of force or the threat to use force, as well as respect for ASEAN processes, principles and norms;

4. Continue to support deeper regional integration, including through the implementation of ASEAN 2025: Forging Ahead Together and ASEAN Centrality in such mechanisms as the EAS, ARF, and the ADMM-Plus as well as welcome the role of the Russian Federation in promoting peace, security and stability in the Asia-Pacific;

5. Intensify the on-going efforts of States Parties to the Treaty on the Southeast Asia Nuclear Weapon-Free Zone (Bangkok Treaty) and the Nuclear Weapon States to resolve outstanding issues pertaining to the signing and ratifying of the Protocol to that Treaty;

6. Foster greater cooperation to address traditional and non-traditional security challenges, such as international terrorism, transnational crime, threats to information security as well as countering the illegal production and trafficking of drugs, under global and regional frameworks, primarily through the United Nations;

7. Enhance cooperation in combating terrorism in all its forms and manifestations, as well as violent extremism and radicalisation in accordance with the relevant resolutions of the UN Security Council and the UN Global Counter-Terrorism Strategy. To this end, promote moderation to counter extremism as called for by the Global Movement of Moderates;

8. Promote cooperation in combating transnational organised crime, including human trafficking, illegal migration, sea piracy, arms smuggling, money laundering, international economic crime and cybercrime. ASEAN appreciates the readiness of the Russian Federation to continue the relevant capacity building training courses;

9. Ensure maritime security and safety, freedom of navigation and overflight, unimpeded commerce. Promote self-restraint, non-use of force or the threat to use force and the resolution of dispute through peaceful means in accordance with universally recognised principles of international law, including as stated in the United Nations Charter, the 1982 United Nations Convention on the Law of the Sea (UNCLOS) and the relevant standards and recommended practices of the International Civil Aviation Organisation (ICAO) and the International Maritime Organisation (IMO);

10. Support the full and effective implementation of the Declaration on the Conduct of Parties in the South China Sea (DOC) and early conclusion of an effective Code of Conduct in the South China Sea (COC) on the basis of consensus;

11. Consolidate the role of the East Asia Summit (EAS) as the key platform for a Leaders-led dialogue on the wide range of strategic, political and economic issues of mutual interest and common concerns, including continued multilateral consultations within EAS on regional security architecture;

12. Where appropriate, further promote cooperation in various global and regional fora, including in the United Nations (UN), Asia-Pacific Economic Cooperation (APEC), Asia-Europe Meeting (ASEM), and G20;

Economic Cooperation

13. Continue dialogue on possible ways to strengthen cooperation to support the ASEAN Economic Community (AEC) and AEC Blueprint 2025;

14. Explore the possibility of mutually beneficial cooperation among ASEAN, EAEU and the Shanghai Cooperation Organisation (SCO);

15. Encourage sustainable and inclusive economic growth, as well as establishment of a more representative system of international economic management with a view to respond constructively to the global and regional economic and financial challenge;

16. Encourage the reform of the international financial system, taking into account the interests and increasing influence of developing countries and emerging economies;

17. Support the development of multilateral trade rules ensuring the equal rights and opportunities as well as prosperity and welfare for all;

18. Promote regional economic cooperation through regular consultations within existing mechanisms aimed at promoting trade and investment, including promoting an open and non-discriminatory market in the Asia-Pacific region, taking into account the interests of each and every economy;

19. Endeavor to increase substantially the volume of trade between ASEAN Member States and Russia; Russia put forward a proposal to launch a joint feasibility study of a comprehensive free trade area between ASEAN and EAEU. ASEAN will consider this initiative;

20. Encourage transport cooperation in areas such as maritime, road and rail transport infrastructure networks and civil aviation, including through capacity building and exchange of best practices;

21. Explore cooperation in the area of electronic commerce with the objective of increasing mutual trade and investment;

22. Strengthen cooperation in pursuit of energy security, including energy efficiency, as well as energy accessibility, affordability and sustainability, including through joint development of renewable energy and clean energy technologies;

23. Explore cooperation in the areas of oil and gas, electric power, energy efficiency, civilian nuclear energy, and renewable energy to enhance energy security;

24. Promote cooperation in agriculture, ensuring national and regional food security, as well as the expansion of trade and investments in healthy and ecologically clean food products;

25. Promote responsible fishing practices and address illegal, unreported and unregulated fishing;

26. Contribute to sustainable development of maritime economy based on the principles of balance between ecological stability and well-being of the population, as well as between the responsible management and efficient use of water resources;

27. Encourage the expansion of contacts between the research centres, universities, scientific funds, scientific and technological associations and companies for creating and promoting new technologies and innovative products, exchanging knowledge through joint project activities, research, seminars and workshops;

28. Promote scientific and technological cooperation aimed at facilitating an innovation economy in areas such as aeronautics, bio-, nano-, and space technologies and medicine;

29. Explore cooperation through the transfer of technologies, joint technological research and development as well as capacity building in space technology and its applications;

30. Encourage partnerships between government and the private sector, including through Public-Private Partnership (PPP), and promote business-to-business relations, Micro, Small and Medium Enterprises (MSMEs) development and strengthening private sector engagement between ASEAN and Russia;

31. Strengthen contacts between entrepreneurs and business associations of ASEAN Member States and the Russian Federation, including through the Russia-ASEAN Business Council as well as the exchange of business missions;

32. Promote favourable conditions for economic activities through the mutual improvement of investment and business climate and trade facilitation;

33. Explore enhancing efforts aimed at promoting the financial welfare and financial awareness of the population on complex financial products and services in a rapidly evolving digital environment;

34. Explore the possibility of cooperation on strengthening infrastructure financing initiatives in ASEAN and Russia;

Social and Cultural Cooperation

35. Welcome and implement the ASEAN-Russia Year of Culture 2016, aimed at broadening and strengthening cultural ties between ASEAN Member States and the Russian Federation and encourage efforts and initiatives to provide impetus in this area;

36. Enhance cooperation in education to promote stronger people-to-people connections, mutual understanding and friendship. Expand professional training programmes and academic exchanges, in particular, between the young scientists, as well as promote vocational training programmes. To these ends, a Joint Working Group on Education is being set up to oversee and enhance education collaborations;

37. Promote greater awareness and appreciation of each other’s traditions, history, heritage and cultural diversity through cultural exchange activities, art exhibitions, film festivals and other cultural events. Promote inter-cultural and inter-civilisational dialogue, as well as ASEAN-Russia consultations on cultural cooperation;

38. Strengthen cooperation in environmental protection, climate change, health, water resources management , and to improve access to clean water and clean air;

39. Welcome the adoption of the Paris Agreement under the United Nations Framework Convention on Climate Change;

40. Deepen cooperation in disaster management by improving national and regional crisis management centres and emergency monitoring and forecasting systems, advancing professional training of national emergency response personnel and rendering assistance in case of emergencies;

41. Explore cooperation to encourage high quality of life and equitable access to opportunities for all and to promote and protect the rights of women, children, youths, elderly persons, persons with disabilities, and migrant workers;

42. Fully utilise the ASEAN Centre in Moscow State Institute of International Relations (MGIMO) University to facilitate promotional activities in developing people-to-people ties, including academic and youth and cultural exchanges between ASEAN and the Russian Federation;

Cooperation on Narrowing the Development Gap and Connectivity

43. Welcome Russia’s further support, as appropriate, of ASEAN’s efforts in narrowing the development gap within and between ASEAN Member States, including the Initiative for ASEAN Integration (IAI), and the promotion of inclusive and sustainable economic growth as stipulated in the IAI Work Plan II and its successor document;

44. Explore ways to cooperate on ASEAN Connectivity in line with the Master Plan on ASEAN Connectivity (MPAC) and its successor document. Promote enhanced connectivity between ASEAN and Russia including more effective transport links, and closer people-to-people ties;

Implementation

45. Task the relevant authorities of ASEAN Member States and the Russian Federation to take necessary measures and efforts to implement the actions set forth in this Declaration. Such implementation of the Declaration shall be reviewed on an annual basis through existing cooperation frameworks;

46. Welcome the adoption of the Comprehensive Plan of Action to Promote Cooperation between the Association of Southeast Asian Nations and the Russian Federation (2016-2020) and task relevant Ministers to oversee its implementation in their respective sectors through appropriate ASEAN-Russia mechanisms;

47. Acknowledge with appreciation the efforts of the ASEAN-Russia Eminent Persons Group in preparing the Report “ASEAN and Russia: A Future-Oriented Multidimensional Strategic Partnership” and task the relevant Ministers to study it thoroughly and to use proposed recommendations, when applicable, with a goal to implement the provisions of the present Declaration;

48. Take appropriate measures to ensure higher efficiency of the ASEAN-Russian Federation Dialogue Partnership Financial Fund (ARDPFF) for implementation of the tasks set forth in the present Declaration. In this regards, ASEAN welcomes the commitment of the Russian Federation to make further annual contributions to the ARDPFF.

Adopted in Sochi, Russian Federation on the Twentieth Day of May of the Year Two Thousand and Sixteen.-VNA