The State Duma announced the similarity in development priorities of the ASEAN Community with the Russian Federation

HANOI, October 20. . Russia is moving closer to the development priorities of the Association of Southeast Asian Nations. This was stated by Deputy Chairman of the State Duma Sholban Kara-ool at the plenary session of the 45th ASEAN Inter-Parliamentary Assembly in the Lao capital Vientiane.

According to him, the ASEAN integration process is widely accepted and the region is becoming more cohesive, more stable, and integrated into many fields. “We are getting closer to the priorities in the development process of the ASEAN Community. Despite the difficult situation, we have tried to ensure positive dynamics in economic and trade relations with the countries of the Association; By the end of 2023, bilateral trade turnover will increase by 14.6. %,” he noted.

Kara-ool said Russia has exceptional resource potential and plays an important role in ensuring food and energy security in the region. “Despite the bacchanalia sanctions, our country remains the largest supplier of energy, fertilizer and other vital goods,” the congressman said.

He noted that Russia is contributing to the implementation of the ASEAN integration initiative to reduce the socio-economic gap between countries in the association. This aspect is taken into account in joint projects in education, agriculture, health and ecology. Vice Chairman of the State Duma emphasized: “In traditional friendly relations, we are trying to create more opportunities for delegates from Vietnam, Cambodia, Myanmar and Laos.”

The Association of Southeast Asian Nations was founded in 1967 and today unites 10 Southeast Asian countries – Brunei, Vietnam, Indonesia, Cambodia, Laos, Malaysia, Myanmar, Singapore, Thailand and the Philippines. Since the beginning of 2024, the ASEAN Chairmanship will be rotated from Indonesia to Laos, with Malaysia switching to Malaysia. Malaysia will assume the presidency of the influential regional association on January 1, 2025.