Partnership EAEC-SCO-ASEAN* can take place

On May 19-20, 2016 the Russia-ASEAN summit took place in Sochi. It should be emphasized that the current year became the 20th anniversary of the establishment of Russia-ASEAN Dialogue. The leaders of all the ASEAN countries came to the summit because of this fact and the importance of problems submitted for discussion, with the exception of the Philippines. During this event, the President of the RF met each of them, thus underscoring the importance of the cooperation between Russia and the ASEAN and the summit held.

Russia's turnover with the ASEAN countries amounted to 13,7 bln USD in 2015, the volume of mutual investments - 11 bln. Russia's cooperation with the ASEAN has positive results. For example, companies of Brunei and Singapore invest in the innovation sphere of Russia, of Vietnam - in oil and gas recovery, of Thailand - in the agricultural sector. The Russian business diversifies into the civilian nuclear industry in Vietnam, in plans - Laos, in mining operations - in Indonesia and Myanmar, in high technologies - in Malaysia.

The summit agenda was intense and dedicated to a wide range of issues. Among them the most important were: 

• improving of the regional security architecture;
• search for new ways to counter the growing threats of international terrorism, extremism, crime; 
• disclosure of the economic potential of relationship;
• growing the sales volume and mutual investment;
• expansion of cooperation in energy, transport and infrastructure, agriculture, science and technologies;
• establishment of diversified contacts between EAEC, ASEAN and SCO.

During the negotiations of the delegations with the Russian leadership it was the intention in view on the part of partners to speed up the establishment of connections in trading, tourism, culture, military-technical cooperation. Such interest to Russia is due to the fact that under the influence of sanctions other sectors have begun to develop in the country with "oil" economy, which are of interest to members of the ASEAN. As a result, the mutual investment and turnover have increased.

The Summit identified new growth areas: high-tech was added to the energy industry, innovations, including in the military sphere, agriculture, sectorial science, culture and education. By the end of the event Russia offered a «roadmap», enshrining a new stage of development in the relations between Russia and the ASEAN and contributing to the further growth. It is 3-5 years long and is a comprehensive cooperation program covering all aspects of the relationship: 57 projects aimed at the formation of joint technological and innovative alliances. By this the Asian partners continue to make adjustments to it.

A key outcome of the summit the analysts believe the course that was set by the participants for «conjugation» of the integration of the ASEAN with the same processes in the EAEC and SCO. Certainly, this will result in the study of existing tariffs, standards, rules of the game, but also the perspective seems very important – it is a free trade between countries, being a part of these organizations.

Against the background of the effectiveness of the economic aspects it should be mentioned also the political factor. Practically the history does not remember such examples, when almost all the leaders of the participating countries come to the summit to one of their partners. Holding of the summit in Sochi demolishes once again the view of the USA and the West about Russia's isolation. In Asia they understand that US policy is leading to a split within the ASEAN. And the countries of Southeast Asia, on the contrary, are interested in keeping «balance», which resulted in that none of the countries should dominate in the region. Therefore, they try to cooperate as well with the USA, as with China, as with Russia. It is not excluded that the idea of the partnership of EAEC, SCO and ASEAN may well become more attractive than the Transatlantic Pacific Partnership.

* ASEAN - Association of Southeast Asian Nations

EAEC – Eurasian Economic Union

SCO – Shanghai Cooperation Organization