Russia, Asean forge new partnership
Afp, Kuala Lumpur
Russia and 10 Southeast Asian countries vowed yesterday to work together in fighting terrorism and stimulating wealth as part of a new partnership signed at the first Russia-Asean summit. But despite being welcomed as a regular summit partner by the Association of Southeast Asian Nations (Asean), Russia faced an uphill battle in its stated desire to play a more influential role in wider Asia-Pacific affairs. President Vladimir Putin, who arrived in Kuala Lumpur a day after making a lightning dash to the war-torn Russian province of Chechnya, held inaugural summit talks with his Asean counterparts for around 90 minutes. That meeting was capped by the signing of a joint 27-point declaration of "comprehensive partnership" between Russia and Asean along with a detailed action plan that officials described as a "road map" for the next 10 years.
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