5^th MEETING OF THE ASEAN-RUSSIA JOINT PLANNING AND

MANAGEMENT COMMITTEE HELD

24 May 2007 — The 5th Meeting of the ASEAN-Russia Joint Planning and Management Committee was held at the Shangri-La Hotel in Makati City, Philippines on 24 May 2007, reviewing the progress in the implementation of the Joint Declaration of the Leaders of ASEAN and Russian Federation on Advanced and Comprehensive Cooperation, the Comprehensive Program of Action to Promote Cooperation, 2005-2010, and the Agreement on Economic and Development Cooperation  

The Meeting was attended by representatives from the Ministry of Foreign Affairs of the Russian Federation , ASEAN Member Countries, and the ASEAN Secretariat. The Meeting was co-chaired by Mr. Luis T. Cruz, Director-General, ASEAN-Philippines, and Mr. Bakhtier Hakimov, Director-General, Department of ASEAN and Asia Pacific Affairs, Ministry of Foreign Affairs, the Russian Federation .

The Meeting was a significant follow-up to the 5th Meeting of the ASEAN-Russia Joint Cooperation Committee (ARJCC) held in Moscow , Russia on 3 November 2006 and further underscored the commitment of both ASEAN and Russia in strengthening the dialogue relationship by moving towards enhanced sectoral cooperation.

The Meeting discussed a wide range of issues related to ASEAN-Russia cooperation with special focus on encouraging contacts in such areas as energy, science and technology, environmental protection, disaster management, tourism and culture, and committed to hold consultations on terrorism and transnational crime.

The Meeting noted the growing interaction between ASEAN and Russia , as well as other emerging areas of common interest and possible cooperation.  The Meeting agreed that joint efforts aimed at intensifying cooperation will help ASEAN and Russia meet the key objective – encourage the trade and economic ties.

The Meeting also undertook initial discussions on the draft Guidelines for the Selection, Approval and Financing of ASEAN-Russia Joint Activities and Programs of Cooperation prepared by Russia . The Meeting agreed to finalize the draft before the 6th Meeting of the ASEAN-Russia Joint Cooperation Committee (ARJCC) scheduled later this year in the Philippines .

The Meeting agreed on the following projects:

Workshop on Renewable Energy for CLMV Countries (Project Proponent : ASEAN Secretariat);

ASEAN Conference “ASEAN SMEs and E-Commerce: Towards Free and Open Trade” (Project Proponent: Russia );

Teaching English as a Foreign Language for Business and Professional Communication in ASEAN Countries (Project Proponent: Russia );

Establishment of an ASEAN Centre in a Russian University (Project Proponent: Thailand );

Publishing of an ASEAN-Russia Business Handbook (Project Proponent: Thailand ); and

Russian Language Course for ASEAN Tour Operators (Project Proponent: Indonesia )

The Meeting agreed to implement the first three project proposals, while the rest will be subject to finalization by their respective project proponents.

The 6th Meeting of the JPMC is scheduled next year in Moscow , Russia .  END

/egret

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