7th Baikal int'l economic forum to be held on Sep 12-14

IRKUTSK, August 15 (Itar-Tass) -- The Baikal international economic
forum is opening great possibilities for improving information exchanges
between Russia and South-East Asia countries, director of the Department
of Asian and Pacific Cooperation of the Russian Foreign Ministry Bakhtier
Khakimov told ITAR-TASS at the press service of the forum.
The round-table meeting "Russia - ASEAN," which for the first time
will be held within the framework of the 7th Baikal forum on September
12-14, will enable Siberian and Far Eastern regions and countries of the
South-East "ten" to better familiarize themselves with economic potentials
of each other, the Russian diplomat believes.
According to him, "the richest natural resources and scientific and
technical potentials of Siberia and the Far East open broad possibilities
for active attraction in the processes of international integration."
Residents of Russia's eastern regions "should feel themselves a part of
the common Asia-Pacific space, which will promote in the final end the
prosperity of this territory and better standards of life of its
population."
The necessity of building up cooperation with ASEAN countries is fixed
the Programme of action for strengthening Russia's positions in the
Asia-Pacific region.
"We are solving similar in many respects tasks connected with
modernization of economy. At present, there are not bad prospects for
developing cooperation in the field of transport. In particular, those on
the creation of logistical chains between Russia and the South-East "ten"
with the use of our transit potential. ASEAN countries pay heightened
attention to issues of ensuring energy security and in this connection are
interested in building up cooperation with Russia in the field of
production of traditional and renwable energy," Khakimov said.