Russia and Asean working on comprehensive cooperation plan for next five year, says Moscow

JAKARTA, Feb 20 (Bernama-Sputnik/RIA Novosti) -- Russia and the Association of South-East Asian Nations (Asean) are working on a comprehensive plan for the main areas of cooperation for the next five years, Russian Deputy Foreign Minister Andrey Rudenko told RIA Novosti.

"Yes, we can only talk about positive dynamics. This concerns both bilateral relations with ASEAN countries and our relations with Asean as an association, an organisation uniting ten states of Southeast Asia. 

"Relations are developing in various areas, we are now working on a new comprehensive plan that will determine the main vectors of our cooperation for the next five years," Rudenko said.

He said that at a meeting Russia felt Asean countries are interested in cooperation with it and see it as one of the stabilising factors in the Asia-Pacific region.

Rudenko stated that among Asean countries, Indonesia became a full BRICS member earlier this year, while Thailand and Malaysia were granted partner status.

BRICS is an interstate association created in 2006 by Russia, China, India and Brazil. South Africa joined in 2011.

Since the beginning of 2024, a number of other countries have joined BRICS. - Bernama-Sputnik-Noviosti