Putin arrives in Malaysia for 1st summit with ASEAN

Amid tight security, Russian President Vladimir Putin arrived in the Malaysian capital Tuesday morning to attend his first-ever summit with the Association of Southeast Asian Nations (ASEAN) leaders. Putin came a day after ASEAN and Russia inked an economic pact to establish a conducive climate to develop a multi-faceted cooperation in areas including small and medium enterprises, science and technology, energy and transport.

In conjunction with the first ASEAN-Russian Summit, slated for here Tuesday afternoon, a series of programs have also been arranged as Moscow looks forward to increasing business opportunities in the region.

Russian officials will attend the 2nd ASEAN-Russia Business Forum, where there would be presentations on aviation, shipbuilding and aerospace, areas in which Russia has global expertise. The chambers of commerce and industry of the Russian Federation will also sign agreements with their counterparts in Malaysia and Brunei to look into forging business alliances.

Meanwhile, a Russian hi-tech exhibition organized by the Russian Economic Development and Trade Ministry and Chambers of Commerce is ongoing and timed to coincide with the ASEAN-Russia summit. On the sidelines of the event, Russian Satellite Communications Company and PT Telekomunikasi Indonesia will sign a pact Wednesday on a joint project to build and install a broadcast satellite covering ASEAN member states.

Aside from the ASEAN-Russia summit, Putin will also attend the inaugural East Asia Summit (EAS) to take place on Dec. 14, which will gather leaders of the 10-member ASEAN and those from China, Japan, South Korea, India, Australia and New Zealand.

He is scheduled to address the EAS leaders at a special sessionprior to their retreat Wednesday, where he is expected to highlight Russia's increasing commitment to the region, particularly on the business front, reports Xinhua. I.L.