ASEAN-Russia Relations

Opening Address

xiii Opening Address It is my great pleasure to be invited today and to be given an opportunity to address you on the occasion of a seminar jointly organized by the Institute of Southeast Asian Studies (ISEAS) and Russian Academy of Sciences’ Institute of the World Economy and International Relations (IMEMO). I am not flattering anyone when I state that these two famous institutions represent what may be the sharpest minds of two nations and always tend to be at the research edge in their never-ending academic quest. The theme of the seminar, “ASEAN Relations with Russia”, covers a wide range of topics to be discussed and proves a great deal of mutual interest existing both in my home country and within the region of Southeast Asia — home base for ASEAN members. I shall talk briefly from the Russian angle and try to define why Russia is interested in deepening its relations with ASEAN and why the association might be interested in Russia as well. In the era of increasing globalization and technical innovation, what lies beneath our mutual interest in each other? It is not only geographical factor that two-thirds of Russia’s territory belongs to the Asian region making it the biggest Euro-Asian country in the world. As the case of Singapore proves, size matters, but it is not crucial to success. It is not a matter of rich variety of natural resources — Singapore again sets up an excellent example that even without a drop of its own oil it is possible to become one of the biggest oil refiners globally. We are living in a constantly and rapidly changing environment to which we have to adapt flexibly in order to survive and prosper. In this small and highly interdependent world we face the same challenges and depend on each other more and more. I am not saying that we are similar; we have a lot of differences — historical, political, and cultural. Yet we share the same values 00 ASEAN-RussiaRelationsPrelim 24/1/06, 2:17 PM 13 xiv xiv Opening Address — we help when someone cries out for our help, like it was in tsunami-hit Aceh,Thailand and Sri Lanka. We stay united and determined, when attacked by the terror. I am fully convinced that besides all other important factors, these alone could serve as a solid foundation for our widening relations. I am sure that forthcoming discussions, timely and topical, will shed more light on the substance of the subject. Russia sees ASEAN as an authoritative and influential organization which actively assists the integration processes in the Asia-Pacific region. Russia highly values the constructive role that ASEAN plays in ensuring stability in Southeast Asia, in its economic and social development. ASEAN has gained a strong foothold as one of the major centres of influence in the Asia-Pacific region, become a unique “nucleus” of regional integration processes and a gravitational field both for Asian and non-regional states. Development of diversified links with ASEAN is a priority area of Russian policy in Asia. We constantly confirm that in word and deed. We appreciate ASEAN’s philosophy of multilateral interaction, its firm commitment to the UN Charter, settlement of disputes by political methods. The recent accession of Russia to the Bali Treaty of 1976, which for almost three decades has been a solid foundation for peace in Southeast Asia and the Asia-Pacific region as a whole, is a telling proof of that. ASEAN and Russia have similar approaches to major global and regional problems. We collaborate closer and closer in multilateral associations, the foremost example being within the framework of the ASEAN Regional Forum (ARF). Our partnership is becoming an increasingly influential factor for ensuring peace and stability in the Asia-Pacific region. Political dialogue with the association provides a basis for developing cooperation in the areas of economy, science and technology, tourism, culture and education. We are ready to work on various joint projects with ASEAN partners. The last two years have witnessed a qualitative breakthrough in our relations. The regulatory and legal frameworks of Russia-ASEAN relations are being intensively developed. The ASEAN-Russia Joint Declaration on Partnership for Peace and Security, Prosperity and Development in the Asia Pacific, which serves as the main framework for further build-up of relations with the association, was signed in Phnom Penh in June 2003. The Joint Declaration for Cooperation to Combat International Terrorism, which made it possible to start developing practical...