SOCHI - Russia and the Association of Southeast Asian Nations (ASEAN) have reached agreements aimed at boosting cooperation and deepening partnership.
A two-day ASEAN-Russia Commemorative Summit held in southern Russia's Black Sea city of Sochi concluded on Friday with the signing of the Sochi Declaration and a five-year action plan.
Trade between Russia and ASEAN members was 13.7 billion U.S. dollars in 2015, rather modest compared with ASEAN's trade performance with some other countries in the Asia-Pacific region, Russian President Vladimir Putin told the summit.
One of the resounding calls at the summit was for the integration of regional organizations such as the Russia-led Eurasian Economic Union (EEU) and the Shanghai Cooperation Organization (SCO).
All ASEAN countries voiced support for the integration of those mechanisms, said Putin who expected a free trade zone between ASEAN and the EEU.
Besides, the Asian Infrastructure Investment Bank (AIIB) is also a promising cooperation partner for Russia and ASEAN members.
At Thursday's Russia-ASEAN Business Forum, AIIB President Jin Liqun said the bank wants to promote investment in infrastructure and mass transport lines in the vast Eurasian land, while Putin considered the AIIB a complement to the current international financial structure, and called for its more positive engagement in the global financial institution.(Xinhua)