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Russia seeks cozier ties with
ASEAN
By Sergei Blagov
MOSCOW
- Russia, with its vast and resource-rich regions in its
far east, is keen to join Asia's economic and political
integration. Not surprisingly, therefore, that in recent
days the Russian capital has witnessed a resurgence in
diplomacy related to the 10-member Association of
Southeast Asian Nations (ASEAN).
Thai Foreign
Minister Surakiart Sathirathai visited Moscow from
September 29 to October 1 to meet with his Russian
counterpart, Igor Ivanov. According to the Russian
official RIA news agency, it was agreed during the talks
that Russia and Thailand shared similar views on a
number of international issues, notably the key role of
the United Nations.
Russian Foreign Ministry
spokesman Alexander Yakovenko said that Moscow believed
that there were "favorable conditions" now for
increasing ties with Thailand, notably trade, as well as
technology and military cooperation. According to
Yakovenko, in 2001 bilateral trade reached US$410
million.
Russia mainly exports steel, chemical
products and fertilizers to Thailand. Russia imports
Thai sugar, rice and garment. Russia's entry to the
World Trade Organization (WTO) would benefit Thailand by
improving access for Thai farm products and the opening
up of new sources for oil, Supachai Panitchpakdi, the
WTO's director-general, has stated.
Surakiart
also discussed the upcoming trip to Moscow of Thai Prime
Minister Thaksin Shinawatra, who is due to pay a
three-day visit from October 16 to 18. Thaksin and
President Vladimir Putin are expected to discuss
measures to increase trade through regular and barter
deals.
The Thai government also reportedly
planned to invite Putin to pay an official visit to
Thailand in October 2003, when the country hosts the
summit of leaders of the Asia-Pacific Economic
Cooperation (APEC). Hence, Putin may become the first
Russian leader to visit Thailand for over a century.
The Kremlin is also keen on stronger ties with
the ASEAN's most populous nation. From September 25-28,
Indonesian Foreign Minister Hassan Wirajuda traveled to
Moscow, where he was reported to have urged the
application of creative approaches to give bilateral
trade a much needed boost.
According to Russian
official statistics, in 2001 bilateral trade reached
$203.5 million. In the wake of the 1997 Asian crisis,
Indonesia canceled plans to procure Russian-built
Sukhoi-30 jetfighters. However, Russia media outlets
have recently speculated that Indonesia is considering
the revival of this nearly $1 billion deal.
Overall, though, the Kremlin has conceded that
trade with ASEAN nations was still low, and officials
have long urged an increase in trade, while Russia has
also called for summit meetings with ASEAN nations. Last
March, Malaysian Prime Minister Mahathir Mohamad flew to
Moscow on his first official visit to Russia, and the
two nations pledged to develop economic ties.
In
2001, bilateral trade between Malaysia and Russia
reached $422 million, or up by 9 percent compared to
2000. Russia exports steel, machinery and fertilizers,
while Malaysia exports machinery, palm oil and rubber
products to Russia.
Bilateral trade also include
arms. Malaysia has long been understood to be
considering the procurement of Sukhoi aircraft, notably
the Su-30 jetfighter, following the purchase of 18
MiG-29s. Russian media outlets have speculated that
Malaysia was reviewing the procurement of 78
Russian-made T-90S tanks, BTR-3 and BMP armored
vehicles, as well as Metis-M anti-tank missiles and Igla
hand-held air defense missiles.
Russia formerly
had extensive ties with Vietnam, its once closest ally
in Asia during the Cold War, and it still has important
economic interests in the country, notably major
hydrocarbon projects, such as the $1.3 billion Dung Quat
oil refinery and the $1.5 billion Vietsovpetro joint
venture, which pumps some 13 million tons a year in
waters off the southern port of Vung Tau.
However, in the wake of Russia's early exit from
the Cam Ranh Bay naval base in July, Moscow's political
leverage in Vietnam is waning. Correspondingly, Russia's
trade with Vietnam has dropped to levels close to
Russia's trade turnover with other ASEAN nations. In
2001, Russia exported $360 million worth of goods to
Vietnam, mainly machinery and steel, while Vietnam sold
$190 million in merchandise to Russia, largely textiles
and rice.
In a noteworthy development, Russia's
ties with ASEAN nations may well take a certain nuclear
coloration. Russia has a nuclear agreement with Vietnam,
which reportedly involves continued maintenance of the
research reactor in Dalat, Lam Dong province, in central
Vietnam. Moreover, last March Vietnam announced plans to
build its own nuclear power station in either Ninh
Thuan, also in central Vietnam, or its neighboring
province of Binh Thuan. It is understood that Russia
could be interested in joining this project.
Earlier this year, Russia reportedly agreed to
help Myanmar construct a center for nuclear studies and
a research nuclear reactor with a thermal capacity of 10
megawatts, and two laboratories. The deal would also
include structures for the disposal of nuclear waste and
a waste burial site. Under the plan, Russia is to
deliver the nuclear fuel. However, it is yet to be
announced when work will begin.
Apart from
economic issues, relations between Russia and ASEAN have
recently witnessed a revival of policy dialogue. Earlier
this year, Russian officials welcomed Philippine house
speaker Jose de Venecia's proposal for an expanded ASEAN
Plus 4 grouping. Explaining his ASEAN Plus 4 proposal
(China, Japan, Korea and Russia), De Venecia said that
Russia's presence may bring about geopolitical "balances
of power" in Asia with its major powers in China, Japan,
Korea and India.
Jose de Venecia said that this
proposal amended the original ASEAN Plus 3 plan that
sought to integrate China, Japan and South Korea in the
context of Asia's economic and political integration.
Therefore, recent developments indicate that ties
between Russia and ASEAN may well be heading towards a
new high. However, it remains to be seen whether
official pronouncements will be accompanied by actual
progress in economic and political ties.
(©2002
Asia Times Online Co Ltd. All rights reserved. Please
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