Russia, ASEAN sign joint statement on strategic partnership
SINGAPORE. Nov 14 (Interfax) - The strategic partnership between Russia and ASEAN will boost their political and economic relations, Russian Permanent Representative to ASEAN Alexander Ivanov told the press in Singapore on Wednesday.
The leaders of Russia and ASEAN nations signed a joint statement on strategic partnership at the summit in Singapore, he said.
"Bringing our relations with ASEAN to the level of strategic partnership will give a powerful boost to the development of our relations in three areas: politics and security, trade and the economy, and humanitarian affairs," Ivanov said.
Russia and ASEAN have achieved a lot in those areas over the past two years, Ivanov said. The economy and culture ministers meet all the time, and law enforcement agencies interact in the relevant working group, he said.
"The attainment of a strategic partnership is the cornerstone of our ties, which will be maintained at the highest level, and this will give a good boost to relations in general," Ivanov said.