Deputy Prime Minister and Minister of Foreign Affairs of the Kingdom of Thailand participated in the Special ASEAN-Russia Foreign Ministers’ Meeting to commemorate the 25th Anniversary of ASEAN-Russia Dialogue Partnership, enhancing cooperation on joint research and development of COVID-19 vaccines and medicines as well as on science and technology in the context of sustainable development.

On 6 July 2021, H.E. Mr. Don Pramudwinai, Deputy Prime Minister and Minister of Foreign Affairs of the Kingdom of Thailand participated in the Special ASEAN-Russia Foreign Ministers’ Meeting via videoconference to commemorate the 25th Anniversary of ASEAN-Russia Dialogue Partnership in 2021. H.E. Ms. Retno Lestari Priansari Marsudi, Minister for Foreign Affairs of the Republic of Indonesia, as the Country Coordinator for ASEAN-Russia Dialogue Relations, co-chaired the Meeting with H.E. Mr. Sergey Lavrov, Minister of Foreign Affairs of the Russian Federation. The Meeting was attended by all ASEAN Foreign Ministers as well as the ASEAN Secretary-General.

The Meeting reflected on past cooperation and discussed the direction of future ASEAN-Russia cooperation as strategic partners, especially cooperation on pandemic preparedness and responses to tackle the spread of COVID-19 as well as other practical cooperation to accelerate post-pandemic recovery and contribute to robust and sustainable growth of the two regions. The Meeting also discussed international and regional issues as well as cooperation in the spheres of political-security, ICT, emergency and disaster management, economy, and science and technology.

Deputy Prime Minister and Minister of Foreign Affairs stressed the importance of joint research and development of COVID-19 vaccines and medicines as well as the possibility of establishing production and distribution facilities in ASEAN. Cooperation on science and technology in the context of sustainable development was also highlighted, with the focus on the Bio-Circular-Green (BCG) Economy, especially in the area of alternative and renewable energy where Russia has expertise.

The Meeting demonstrated Russia’s continued support of ASEAN centrality and active participation in ASEAN-led mechanisms. Both of which is instrumental to future ASEAN-Russia cooperation and our collective efforts to stop the spread of COVID-19 and accelerate post-pandemic economic recovery as well as enhance resilience against future challenges.