Address by the President of the Russian Federation Vladimir Putin

In 2016, we mark the 20th Anniversary of the ASEAN — Russia Dialogue Partnership.

Over the past two decades, Russia and ASEAN have obtained huge experience of fruitful political, economic and humanitarian cooperation. Russia actively collaborates with the ASEAN Member States in addressing urgent international issues, including within the framework of ASEAN-led multilateral fora: the East Asia Summit, the ASEAN Regional Forum and ASEAN Defence Ministers' Meetings Plus. This cooperation has become an important factor of stability and economic growth in the Asia-Pacific region.

These results provide a good basis for raising ASEAN — Russia relations to a qualitatively new level of strategic partnership, which is the main goal of the ASEAN-Russia Commemorative Summit to be held on 19-20 May 2016 in Sochi.

The Summit agenda includes a broad range of issues related to improving the regional security architecture and looking for new ways to fight the growing threats of international terrorism, militant extremism and transnational crime.

Yet another important task is to realize the rich economic potential of our relations and to increase the amount of trade and mutual investment. Hopefully the ASEAN-Russia Business Forum, that will precede the Sochi Summit, could develop effective measures to expand cooperation in energy, transportation and infrastructure, agriculture, science and technology.

In addition, we will consider the possibility of establishing versatile contacts between the Eurasian Economic Union and ASEAN as well as coordination of the operations of these major integration structures in the future. It is also vital to build up practical cooperation between ASEAN and the SCO.

I am confident that the Sochi Summit will become a significant event in the development of ASEAN-Russia cooperation in all areas and will help to address urgent problems in the Asia-Pacific region.

Vladimir Putin