On Tuesday, 5 September, an official delegation of Russian business communities took part in the ASEAN-Indo-Pacific Forum (AIPF) for the first time. The Forum, which is held under the theme “ASEAN Matters: the epicentre of growth”, brought together political leaders from the Association of Southeast Asian Nations, Japan, Australia and Canada, as well as CEOs of leading multinational corporations, heads of the World Economic Forum, the International Monetary Fund (IMF) and the World Bank.

During the opening session, participants acknowledged the growing role of ASEAN and the Indo-Pacific region as a whole, noting the importance of maintaining the pace of sustainable development. For example, IMF chief Kristalina Georgieva said in her speech that ASEAN countries directly influence global economic growth.

The first day of the forum focused on climate agenda, digital technology development, poverty alleviation, energy and food security, alternative energy, artificial intelligence development and industrial revolution 4.0.

Indonesian President Joko Widodo emphasised that ASEAN should not become a platform that would represent the interests of any of the world powers. According to him, it is necessary to join efforts to solve common problems in the region and the world as a whole, as well as to work to maintain stability and prosperity.

According to Ivan Polyakov, the head of the Russian delegation and Chairman of the Russia-ASEAN Business Council, the practical achievement of the goals discussed at the forum, as well as the maintenance of high growth rates in the region, cannot be ensured without Russia’s participation in regional and global processes.

He noted that for the first time at such a high level the concept of the Greater Eurasian Partnership, put forward by Russian President Vladimir Putin long before the political and economic turbulence in the world, was highly appreciated and recognised. Polyakov also added that Indonesian President Joko Widodo’s words regarding ASEAN largely develop the Russian leader’s repeatedly voiced message about the need to protect the existing global and regional security architecture, the foundations of international law and the fundamental principles of the UN.

In the same way, according to Ivan Polyakov, the theses of the heads of the World Bank and the World Economic Forum on the importance of complementarity and compatibility of existing systems were voiced.

The universality and relevance of the Greater Eurasian Partnership concept, Russia’s practical successes in combating international terrorism and the fruitful development of cooperation in the BRICS and BRICS+ formats are becoming evident to an increasing number of global leaders, said Ivan Polyakov.

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