ASEAN-Russia relations discussed in Moscow

 Moscow (VNA) – A seminar in Moscow on November 10 discussed prospects for cooperation between Russia and the Association of Southeast Asian Nations (ASEAN) and the role played by Vietnam in connecting the Eurasian Economic Union (EAEU) and ASEAN.

The event was held on the threshold of the 31st ASEAN Summit, the 20th ASEAN 3 Meetings, the ASEAN 1 Meeting and the 12th East Asia Summit slated for November 12-14 in Manila, the Philippines.

The participating experts also talked about ASEAN’s role in the new geo-political situation and the special friendship between Vietnam and Russia within the framework of the ten-member group.

As the first ASEAN nation to sign a free trade agreement with the EAEU, Vietnam has been regarded as a bridge between Russia and ASEAN which has a combined population of more than 600 million, they said.

Head of the expert council of the Eurasian ideas foundation Grigory Trofimchuk, stressed Vietnam’s increasing influence in ASEAN thanks to its political and economic position in the region and the world at large.

However, they also pointed to obstacles to the ASEAN-Russia relations, including Russia’s lack of investments in the ASEAN market and traditional and non-traditional threats to ASEAN like conflicts in the East Sea and the spread of terrorism in Southeast Asia.

The experts said economic and trade cooperation between Vietnam and Russia has yet to match their potential and fruitful political ties.

They suggested the two sides make the maximal use of available advantages to bring Vietnam-Russia trade value to 10 billion USD by 2020 as declared by leaders of the two countries.

Viktor Tarusin, Executive Director of the Russia-ASEAN Business Council, said Vietnam and Russia should intensify communication work and organise more forums for their businesses to exchange and get to know each other. -VNA