FRIDAY, March 29, 2024
nationthailand

Russia moving economic priorities to countries in the Asia-Pacific

Russia moving economic priorities to countries in the Asia-Pacific

Hosting the Apec 2012 Summit this year leaves two ambitions for Russia – to strengthen economic cooperation with Asia-Pacific countries and to revitalise the city of Vladivostok as an economic hub for the Far East, connecting Europe and Asia.

Russian Ambassador Alexander Mariyasov has made it clear that the Asia-Pacific has become a driving force of the modern economy, due to the ongoing economic downturn in the West.
“This region is becoming the leader practically in trade, investment and economic development.
So that’s why we’re looking to strengthen our cooperation with Asia-Pacific countries and Apec is
the instrument to do that,” he said. Although Russia is not a newcomer to the region, its “Look East” strategy is believed to be the impetus of seeking to develop the economies of Siberia and its Far East region.
Strengthening ties with Asia-Pacific countries has become one of the main priorities for Russia’s foreign policy.
As Russia has joined the World Trade Organisation, the framework of Apec is a good opportunity for the superpower to utilise its involvement in the regional cooperation and bring mutual benefit to Apec countries. “This region can also benefit from cooperation with Russia.
Russia is very big in natural resources, oil and gas, and it is very good as a transportation bridge
between Europe and Asia-Pacific,” he said. “We have logistics and transport corridors like the Trans-Siberian and also North Sea route, which can compete very effectively with the traditional corridors such as the Strait of Malacca. It is our advantage.” The choice of Vladivostok to host the summit was no accident. The Far East city has the largest Russian port on the Pacific Ocean and is Russia’s most southeastern seaport, and the administrative centre of the Primorsky territory near the country’s borders with China and North Korea.

“Vladivostok is one of the biggest cities near to this region. It’s also the capital of the Far East federal region of the Russian Federation. It’s a big port. It’s the industrial and economic centre of
this region, which possesses an extensive logistics infrastructure,” he said.
Besides economic development cooperation, Russia has a long history with many countries in the Asia-Pacific and is committed to adhering to principles put forward by former Russian president Dmitry Medvedev and Chinese President Hu Jintao to build friendly, mutually beneficial relations within the region.
Russia supports the maintenance of a respective atmosphere among countries in the East and
the formulation of a basic code of behaviour for security. Just as Thailand proposes itself
as a transport hub in Southeast Asia, Russia also connects the East with the West and it hopes to promote connectivity in this regard in the future. With much being discussed by Russian President Vladimir Putin and Prime Minister Yingluck Shinawatra in Vladivostok, both
sides have invited each other to pay official visits to further the sharing of ideas on economic development. However, the date will be decided upon the schedule of both leaders.

Russia also plans to invite Foreign Minister Surapong Towichukc haikul for an official visit to discuss bilateral relations and international issues, he added.

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