The Deputy Permanent Secretary for Foreign Affairs promoted cooperation on medical research, development and production of vaccines for global public goods, as well as the use of ASEAN-led mechanisms to enhance regional preparedness and responses to COVID-19, at the 17th ASEAN-Russia Senior Officials’ Meeting via video conference.

On 26 January 2021, Mr. Chutintorn Gongsakdi, Deputy Permanent Secretary for Foreign Affairs, participated in the 17th ASEAN-Russia Senior Officials’ Meeting (ARSOM) via video conference. The Meeting was co-chaired by the Director-General for ASEAN Cooperation of Indonesia, as coordinator for ASEAN-Russia Dialogue Relations, and the Deputy Foreign Minister of Russia.

The 17th ARSOM highlighted cooperation between ASEAN and Russia as strategic partners, especially on counter-terrorism, transnational crime as well as cooperation in pandemic response. The Meeting also exchanged views on regional and international issues, including regional architecture and collaboration between ASEAN and Russia in regional fora. The Meeting approved the Concept Paper on the Establishment of an ASEAN-Russia Dialogue on ICT Security-related Issues to strengthen cooperation on non-traditional security threats and digital economy.

The Deputy Permanent Secretary led the discussion on pandemic responses by highlighting cooperation on medical research, development and production of vaccines for global public goods, as well as the use of ASEAN-led mechanisms to enhance regional preparedness and responses to COVID-19.

The Meeting demonstrated Russia’s continued role in contributing to the regional security architecture through building strategic trust and promoting win-win cooperation in order to create a peaceful environment conducive to the post-COVID economic recovery.