Russia-ASEAN Business Council, the Ministry of Economic Development of Russia with the support of the Eurasian Economic Commission (EEC) and the ASEAN Secretariat conducted the international seminar of experts from the EAEU and ASEAN member states. The seminar was held on December 9-10, 2019 in Moscow.

The seminar was held in such a format for the first time - more than 100 heads and experts from relevant ministries and departments responsible for foreign economic activity and integration from 10 ASEAN countries, 5 EAEU countries, representatives of the ASEAN Secretariat and heads and experts of the Eurasian Economic Commission participated in it.

Chairman of the Russia-ASEAN Business Council Mr. Ivan Polyakov in his welcoming remarks at the opening of the international seminar noted that 2018 was significant in the development of economic cooperation both with ASEAN and the EAEU with ASEAN. Thus, in Singapore in 2018, the level of dialogue between Russia and ASEAN was raised to a strategic partnership, and a memorandum of understanding was signed between the ECE and the ASEAN secretariat in the field of economic cooperation.
Mr. Sergey Glazyev Member of the Board (Minister) for Integration and Macroeconomics of EEC in his speech stressed that an important element of interaction is a high-quality and systematic information exchange between the EAEU and ASEAN with an emphasis on expert advice and exchange of experience on trade facilitation, technical regulation, digital development economics, sanitary and phytosanitary measures.

"Despite instability in financial markets and slowing economic growth globally, ASEAN is showing strong economic growth, increased investment activity and increased domestic consumption," said Undersecretary of the Kingdom of Cambodia Mr. Pich Rithi. In his opinion, the main priority in strategic planning should be in areas such as digital transformation and high technology, which are drivers of economic growth.

Ms. Natalya Stapran, Director of the Department of Multilateral Economic Cooperation and Special Projects of the Ministry of Economic Development of Russia noted the need to increase cooperation both in traditional areas and in areas caused by digital transformation processes and enhancing the role of the sustainable development agenda. In addition to the traditional agenda, the parties, according to the representative of the Ministry of Economic Development of the Russian Federation, should cooperate on new issues, such as inclusive growth, and the agenda for sustainable development goals.

Representatives of the ministries and departments of the EAEU and ASEAN member states, the EEC and the ASEAN Secretariat within two days had the opportunity to exchange relevant information on the functioning of the two integration associations, as well as discuss the features of integration processes and prospects for economic cooperation between the two economic associations. In addition, at the seminar practices of the two associations on the development of trade agreements, the principles of the functioning of common markets, monetary and foreign exchange policies, the possibility of introducing a single window system in order to simplify trade procedures were discussed.