Vietnam has always been supportive in the enhancement of the ASEAN-Russia strategic partnership and taking it to a new height.

Vietnamese Minister of Foreign Affairs Bui Thanh Son speaks at the event. Photos: baoquocte

Vietnamese Minister of Foreign Affairs Bui Thanh Son said at the Special ASEAN-Russia Foreign Ministers’ Meeting with the joint host of Indonesian Foreign Minister Retno Masudi and her Russian counterpart Sergey Lavrov via video call on July 6.

The meeting took place on the occasion of the 30th anniversary of the establishment of ASEAN-Russia relations (1991-2021), providing a platform for the delegates to discuss cooperation against Covid-19, recovery promotion, and Asia-Pacific structure.

"Vietnam appreciates Russia’s willingness to transfer Covid-19 vaccine production technology and expand production in ASEAN, and capitalize on tourism cooperation to boost recovery in the post-pandemic period," he said.

Minister Bui Thanh Son assessed the partnership and friendship between ASEAN and Russia over the past 30 years has become increasingly solid and reliable. He also welcomed Russia to strengthen cooperation with ASEAN, affirming its increasingly important role and position in the region and in the world.

For his part, Russian Foreign Minister Sergey Lavrov emphasized Russia and ASEAN are reliable strategic partners that have coordinated with each other to effectively respond to difficulties and challenges in the context of uncertainties in the regional and world situation. 

The Russian Foreign Minister also affirmed his support for ASEAN's central role in the regional structure and pledged to actively contribute to ASEAN-led mechanisms.

Sergey Lavrov expressed his wish that the two sides would strengthen cooperation between ASEAN and the Shanghai Cooperation Organization (SCO) and the Eurasian Economic Union (EAEU).

The ministers agreed that 2021 is a milestone in the bilateral relationship, and it is necessary to further strengthen the strategic partnership, overcome challenges caused by the pandemic and accelerate recovery efforts.

Delegates join the online Special ASEAN-Russia Foreign Ministers’ Meeting.

The participants highly appreciated the successful organization of the first ASEAN-Russian Consultations of the High Representatives for Security Issues on June 28 and agreed to soon organize a dialogue on information technology security and communication as well as promoting ASEAN-Russia cooperation in disaster management.

On this occasion, Russia proposed the 4th ASEAN-Russia Summit to be held in October.

In the face of the complicated developments of the Covid-19 situation, the participants affirmed to continue working closely in preventing the spread of dangerous variants of the disease, and coordinating in safe and fair distribution of vaccines to the people in the region, actively implementing the commitments to respond to Covid-19 mentioned at the 15th East Asia Summit last November.

Russia will continue to organize training programs for medical staff, providing technical and professional support, and test kits, therapeutic drugs, and vaccines for ASEAN countries in the coming time.

Representatives of Russia and Indonesia issued a statement of the co-chairs at the end of the meeting.