1. Economic Ministers from the ten ASEAN Member States and the Minister of Economic Development of the Russian Federation met on 25 August 2015 in Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia for the Fourth AEM- Russia Consultations. The Consultations were co-chaired by H.E. Dato’ Sri Mustapa Mohamed, Minister of International Trade and Industry of Malaysia and H.E. Alexey V. Ulyukaev, Minister of Economic Development of the Russian Federation.

2. The Ministers were pleased to note the growth of trade between ASEAN and Russia. Total trade between ASEAN and Russia recorded an increase of 13 per cent, from USD 19.9 billion in 2013 to USD 22.5 billion in 2014. ASEAN exports to Russia increased by 3.3 per cent, from USD 5.2 billion to USD5.4 billion over the same period. ASEAN’s imports from Russia also grew by 16.5 per cent year-on-year amounting to USD 17.1 billion in 2014. Russia was ASEAN’s eighth largest trading partner in 2014.

3. The Ministers noted the progress of the ASEAN-Russia Trade and Investment Cooperation Work Programme and were pleased with the implementation of various activities under the Work Programme, including the annual AEM-Russia Consultations, the 7th SEOM-Russia Consultations, and various projects on technology, agriculture products, energy, and tourism.

4. To deepen economic ties and enhance the trade and investment relationship between ASEAN and Russia, the Ministers endorsed the Post-2015 ASEAN-Russia Trade and Investment Cooperation Work Programme, which was built upon the successful initiatives under the previous ASEAN-Russia Trade and Investment Cooperation Work Programme, in accordance with the ASEAN Russia Trade and Investment Cooperation Roadmap endorsed by the Ministers on 12 October 2012.

5. The Ministers noted Russia’s revised list of 57 new projects to be annexed to the ASEAN-Russia Trade and Investment Cooperation Roadmap. Given the fact that the projects are mostly seeking joint ventures or business opportunities, the Ministers agreed to channel the projects to the ASEAN Business Advisory Council and/or the Russia-ASEAN Business Council.

6. The Ministers commended the ASEAN-Russia Workshop on E-Commerce organised by Russia on 24 August 2015 in Cyberjaya, Malaysia on the margins of the second Russian business mission to ASEAN Member States. The Ministers noted that the Workshop has served as a platform which brings together e-commerce experts from public and private sectors of ASEAN Member States and the Russian Federation to create a common system of e-commerce in the framework of ASEAN-Russia Dialogue Partnership.

7. The Ministers welcomed outcomes of the second Russian business mission to ASEAN and expressed a hope that the regular exchanges of the ASEAN-Russia private sector will contribute to enhancing the trade relations between ASEAN and Russia.

List of Ministers

1. Ms Tutiaty Abdul Wahab, Deputy Permanent Secretary, Ministry of Foreign Affairs and Trade, Brunei Darussalam (representing the Hon. Pehin Dato Lim Jock Seng, Second Minister, Ministry of Foreign Affairs and Trade, Brunei Darussalam);

2. H.E. Pan Sorasak, Secretary of State for Commerce, Cambodia (representing H.E. Sun Chanthol, Senior Minister and Minister of Commerce, Cambodia);

3. Mrs Sondang Anggraini, Adviser to the Minister on Trade and Diplomacy, Ministry of Trade, Indonesia (representing H.E. Thomas Trikasih Lembong, Minister of Trade, Indonesia);

4. H.E. Mrs Khemmani Pholsena, Minister of Industry and Commerce, Lao PDR;

5. H.E. Dato’ Sri Mustapa Mohamed, Minister of International Trade and Industry, Malaysia;

6. H.E. Dr. Kan Zaw, Union Minister of National Planning and Economic Development, Myanmar;

7. H.E. Gregory L. Domingo, Secretary of Trade and Industry, the Philippines;

8. H.E. Alexey V. Ulyukaev, Minister for Economic Development, the Russian Federation;

9. Ms Sulaimah Mahmood, Director of ASEAN, Ministry of Trade and Industry, Singapore (representing H.E. Lim Hng Kiang, Minister for Trade and Industry, Singapore);

10. Mr Thawatchai Sophastienphong, Director General, Department of Trade Negotiations, Ministry of Commerce (representing H.E. Gen. Chatchai Sarikulya, Minister of Commerce, Thailand);

11. H.E. Nguyen Cam Tu, Deputy Minister of Industry and Trade, Viet Nam (representing H.E. Vu Huy Hoang, Minister of Industry and Trade, Viet Nam);

12. H.E. Le Luong Minh, Secretary-General of ASEAN.