Science but not fiction: A new chapter of Asean-russia partnership

THE hysteria around “a threat of a Russian invasion” of Ukraine is very entertaining indeed. We read media outlets as a fiction (not science fiction) book with new twists and turns offered by Western authors almost every day.

Quantum wells, finite-valued functions and proton therapy cannot create the same amount of hype but can seriously improve our lives. So do cancer analytics, carbon neutrality, space exploration and artificial intelligence. That is why all these and many other useful topics are included in the programme of the Asean-russia Year of Scientific and Technical Cooperation 2022, comprising more than 50 joint activities.

The Year of Scientific and Technical Cooperation, which was launched on Monday, is a big step toward further advancing the Asean-russia partnership, which will commemorate its fifth anniversary next year. Since the third Asean-russia Summit in Singapore in 2018, which elevated the status of our partnership to a strategic level, Russia’s relations with Asean have gone from strength to strength.

We have launched the Consultations of High Representatives for Security Issues and the dialogue on ICT security issues, organised the first Asean-russia naval exercise, signed a memorandum of understanding on disaster management, and elevated our dialogue on tourism to a ministerial level.

Now, we are happy to launch the biggest project in science and technology for more than 30 years in Asean-russia relations, and we hope that it will greatly contribute to the fulfilment of the Comprehensive Plan of Action to Implement the Asean and Russia Strategic Partnership 2021-2025.

Scientific and technical cooperation is a very good example of a positive unifying agenda that Russia is always promoting in the Asiapacific. Since 2019 we have launched courses for Asean specialists on responding to infectious diseases and proposed establishing a regional mechanism of emerging infectious diseases prevention and control within the East Asia Summit.

Last year, we finalised a series of educational video films on technologies in wastewater treatment and water management of agricultural regions in Asean and launched a new project on technological solutions for smart cities.

The events throughout this year will build even stronger connections between universities, academics and the youth of Asean and Russia. Technological research and development will assist in overcoming the Covid-19 pandemic, reaching Sustainable Development Goals, embracing the Fourth Industrial Revolution and creating new opportunities for sustainable economic development and prosperity.

The possible impact of the Aseanrussia Year of Scientific and Technical Cooperation goes far beyond the scope of science. Russian businesses are ready to promote the expansion of science, technology and innovation start-ups into each other’s markets to encourage the cocreation of innovative tech solutions and products.

To this end, Russia also established an office of the Trade Representative to Asean in Jakarta last year. The foundation, laid throughout this year, can also become the solid ground for future interactions between Asean and the Eurasian Economic Union. This will be discussed at the annual Aseaneurasian Economic Union Business Dialogue within the programme of the St Petersburg International Economic Forum this year.

The Asean-russia Year of Scientific and Technical Cooperation is a positive and exciting endeavour we are looking forward to realising with our Asean friends. And this is exactly what the region needs amid all the anti-russian propaganda by the West, the attempts to divide countries unworthy and the act of les miserables. – The Jakarta Post/ Asia News Network