Russian Foreign Minister Sergey Lavrov is currently touring counties of the Asia-Pacific region. On Saturday, he visited Japan, and on Sunday – Brunei.
In Brunei’s capital, a city called Bandar Seri Begawan, Mr. Lavrov met with Second Minister of Foreign Affairs and Trade Lim Jock Seng. Then, the Russian Foreign Minister went to the local university, where he made a speech. His audience consisted of Brunei’s top officials and businesspeople, as well as the university’s teachers and students.
As far as Islam is the official religion in Brunei, every ceremony there usually starts with a prayer. This time, the audience also prayed to Allah before Mr. Lavrov’s speech.
In his speech, Sergey Lavrov stressed that Russia is an inseparable part of the Asia-Pacific region, and Russia’s interests in the region are one of the main aspects of the Russian government’s policy.
At present, the role of the countries of the Asia-Pacific region in the world policy is evidently growing, and Mr. Lavrov spoke mostly on this topic in his speech. The Russian minister thinks that currently, Russia has no serious contradictions with any of the countries of the region, and those small misunderstandings which still exist can be settled through talks.
Economic cooperation between Russia and Asian countries is also growing, Mr. Lavrov said.
n 2012, a summit of the Asia-Pacific Economic Cooperation Forum will be held in Russia – for the first time in the forum’s history. Mr. Lavrov believes that the forum will open new possibilities both for Asian countries and for Russia.
The Russian Foreign Minister also spoke about concrete plans for Russian-Brunei cooperation:
“For many years, Russia has had very good relations with Brunei. The two countries are cooperating very closely – both in politics and in other spheres. For example, intensive talks are now being held between the two countries’ energy ministries. Some time ago, a delegation of the Brunei Ministry of Energy visited Russia, and later, a delegation of the Russian Energy Ministry paid the visit back. The Russian gas giant “Gazprom” is discussing possible contracts with “Brunei Petroleum”. Brunei will probably buy some oil-producing equipment from Russia. Besides, a delegation of the Russian “Rosatom” atomic agency has visited Brunei. Russia and Brunei are also planning to think over possible joint projects in other countries – and, I believe, much may be done here if we join our potentials.”
This is Sergey Lavrov’s first visit to Brunei in the status of Russia’s foreign minister.
Diplomatic relations between Russia and Brunei were established in 1991.
Dipetik dari - Voice of Russia
Asia-Pacific top foreign policy priority, says Russian minister
Adam Radhi
BRUNEI-MUARA
Monday, January 30, 2012
THE Asia-Pacific region has become a top foreign policy priority for Russia as it seeks to build regional security through further trade and investment liberalisation to forge economic integration.
Russian Minister of Foreign Affairs, Sergey Lavrov while delivering a lecture on Russian foreign policy at Universiti Brunei Darussalam (UBD) yesterday, said Russia's first priority is to assume an active participation in building the "regional architecture of security and cooperation".
Lavrov, who is on a two-day visit to the Sultanate as part of a working tour around the Asia Pacific region, underscored the importance of the East Asian Summit in charting a path towards a more secure regional order.
He added: "Special attention" will be given to it as it offers a "natural format for developing a holistic concept of transformation of the regional order and establishing a new security architecture in East Asia".
"We focus our attention on the promotion of trade and economic ties with the Asia-Pacific region states," Lavrov told an audience comprising students and staff of UBD, foreign dignitaries and government representatives from the Ministry of Foreign Affairs and Trade.
In promoting the liberalisation of trade and investment activities, he said Russia invites partners to carry out large-scale projects in the Far East and Siberia regions.
Also, Russia will be placing emphasis on establishing "modernisation alliances" on the basis of innovations in high-added-value economic sectors, Lavrov said, adding high technologies and outer space activities as examples.
Other key priority areas highlighted were: cooperation for innovative growth, improvement of transport and logistics systems, and strengthening food security.
Dipetik dari - The Brunei Times
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