The Russia-ASEAN Business Council conducted a working meeting with the ASEAN Moscow Committee and leading Russian figures in the field of science, education, culture and art on March 11, 2021 in Moscow.

The meeting was attended by Deputy Minister of Foreign Affairs of the Russian Federation Igor Morgulov, Acting Director of the Institute of Far Eastern Studies of Russian Academy of Sciences Alexey Maslov, Deputy Chairman of the Council of Muftis of Russia and the Spiritual Administration of Muslims of the Russian Federation Rushan hazrat Abbyasov, Artistic Director and Chief Conductor of the Tauride Symphony Orchestra Mikhail Golikov, Head of the Asia Department of the Department for External Church Relations Moscow Patriarchate Dmitry Petrovsky, representatives of leading Russian universities - Dean of the Faculty of International Economic Relations of the Financial University under the Government of the Russian Federation Mikhail Alekseev, Vice-Rector of St. Petersburg State University of Economics Nikolai Toivonen and Vice-Rector of the Peoples 'Friendship University of Russia Larisa Efremova, as well as Ambassadors and representatives of the ASEAN countries' embassies.

Deputy Minister of Foreign Affairs of the Russian Federation Igor Morgulov stated that promoting a strategic dialogue with ASEAN is one of the priorities of Russian foreign policy in the Asia-Pacific region and stressed that despite the complex epidemiological situation in the world, Russian-ASEAN relations are actively developing. I. Morgulov highlighted promising areas for the development of bilateral cooperation, in particular, the formation of innovation and technological clusters and building links between them, the expansion of cooperation in the joint development of software and equipment in the field of ICT, the development of "smart cities".

Chairman of the Russia-ASEAN Business Council Ivan Polyakov, in his speech noted the particular importance of developing communications between public organizations, business circles and leading figures in the field of science, education and culture, and also expressed the willingness of the Business Council to support the further development of cooperation between Russia and the ASEAN countries in humanitarian sphere.

The Ambassador of Brunei Darussalam to Russia, Chairman of the ASEAN Moscow Committee, Haini Hashim, in his welcoming speech, noted the exceptional importance of the trade, economic and humanitarian partnership between Russia and the ASEAN countries and expressed confidence in further strengthening of fruitful cooperation in various fields.

Deputy Chairman of the Council of Muftis of Russia and the Spiritual Administration of Muslims of the Russian Federation Rushan hazrat Abbyasov stressed that for Russia, as a part of the Muslim world, strengthening relations with the ASEAN countries is of exceptional importance. "In addition to the development of economic and political relations, the strengthening of spiritual ties contributes to the expansion of the partnership between Russia and the ASEAN countries," R. Abbyasov emphasized.

Head of the Asia Department of the Moscow Patriarchate's Department for External Church Relations Dmitry Petrovsky stressed in his speech that the Russian Orthodox Church is currently actively increasing its presence in Southeast Asia, thus, the development of interreligious dialogue between Russia and the ASEAN countries has a wide potential.

During the working meeting, an active discussion took place on promising directions and initiatives to enhance bilateral mutually beneficial cooperation between Russia and ASEAN in the field of science, education and the arts. The sides exchanged views on a number of topical issues, confirming the commitment of Russia and ASEAN to a constructive partnership.