Source: FN
Cambodian Prime Minister Hun Sen expressed his full support for the proposal of Russian President Vladimir Putin to establish the ASEAN-Russia Dialogue Relations as a strategic dialogue partner, speaking at the 3rd ASEAN-Russia Summit, held on 14 November 2018, in Singapore, presided over by Prime Minister of the Republic of Singapore Lee Hsien Loong, with a participation of ASEAN leaders and H.E. Vladimir Putin, President of the Russian Federation.
Prime Minister Hun Sen noted that the presence of Russian President has contributed to the progress in ASEAN-Russia dialogue relation across a wide range of areas, including through the implementation of the Sochi Declaration of the ASEAN-Russian Federation Commemorative Summit to Mark the 20th Anniversary of ASEAN-Russian Federation Dialogue Partnership “Moving Towards a Strategic Partnership for Mutual Benefit” adopted on 20 May 2016 in Sochi, Russia.
“Cambodia welcomes the promotion of ASEAN-Russia Dialogue Relations to “a strategic dialogue partner”. With the uncertainty of the impacts of trade war and that some of the ASEAN Free Trade almost come to end, Cambodia recognizes that the study of the joint outcomes of the Comprehensive Free Trade Area between ASEAN and the Eurasian Union should be done as soon as possible,” the premier underlined.
Cambodia welcomed the signing of the Memorandum of Understanding (MOU) between ASEAN and the Russian Federation on Cooperation in the Field of Disaster Management, and the MOU between ASEAN and the Eurasian Economic Commission (EEC), which lays the groundwork for enhanced economic cooperation and the development of new areas of cooperation between ASEAN and the Eurasian Economic Union (EAEU).
ASEAN and Russia leaders agreed to adopt the Joint ASEAN-Russia Leaders’ Statement on the Occasion of the 3rd ASEAN-Russia Summit – reflecting the progress in the implementation of Sochi Declaration and Comprehensive Plan of Action (CPA) to Promote Cooperation between the Association of Southeast Asian Nations and the Russian Federation (2016-2020); and ASEAN-Russia Summit Statement on Cooperation in the Field of Security of and in the Use of Information and Communication Technologies (ICTs).
ASEAN and Eurasian leaders also witnessed the signing ceremony of the MOU between the EEC and ASEAN on Economic Cooperation signed by the Secretary-General of ASEAN and the Secretary-General of the EEC.
It is worth noting that the total trade volume of ASEAN-Russia was USD 16.79 billion and Foreign Direct Investment (FDI) from Russia to ASEAN amounted to USD 44.63 million in 2017.