MOSCOW, December 12 (RIA Novosti) - Vladimir Putin will fly to Asia Monday to attend a major regional summit, where he is expected to discuss a variety of issues, ranging from space exploration and terrorism to Russia's bid to join the World Trade Organization, a Kremlin official said.
In a move that signals Russia's continuing desire to expand its ties with the region, Putin will attend the first summit between Russia and the regional forum of the Association of Southeast Asian Nations (Asean) in the Malaysian capital, Kuala Lumpur. The Russia-Asean summit, the first in 10 years of bilateral cooperation, will be held as part of an East Asia summit, which Russia will attend as a guest. The event will contain the 10 Asean members and other nations, such as regional powerhouses Japan, China, South Korea, India, and Australia and New Zealand.
Presidential aide Sergei Prikhodko said Putin and Asean leaders would convene in Kuala Lumpur December 13-14 to discuss and sign a joint declaration on comprehensive partnership covering nearly every area of interaction, from counter-terrorism to tourism and sports.
On the sidelines of the summit, Putin will meet with Malaysian Prime Minister Abdullah Ahmad Badawi. The sides are expected to sign a memorandum ending bilateral talks on Russia's accession to the world's governing trade body. "Talks on the WTO are nearing completion," Prikhodko said.
Putin's agenda in Kuala Lumpur also includes a meeting with Thai Prime Minister Thaksin Chinnawat, which is expected to yield an agreement on visa-free travel for Russian and Thai citizens, Prikhodko said.
"Vladimir Putin and Thaksin Chinnawat have already given instructions to draft the document, and we expect it to be signed in Kuala-Lumpur," the official said.
Military and technological, and also space cooperation are a significant part of bilateral agenda, particularly as Malaysia is interested in using Russia's space capabilities, Prikhodko said. The first Malaysian astronaut is to fly into space in 2007 as part of a $900-million deal for 18 Russian multipurpose Su-30MKM air superiority fighters that was signed in 2003.
Prikhodko also said Russian technologies would be on display during the summit.
Another event will be a forum designed to promote corporate ties between the Russian and Asean business communities. Russia will be represented by such high-profile companies as oil major LUKoil, AFK Sistema holding, aircraft-maker MiG, oil and gas company Itera, natural gas giant Gazprom, Rostelecom, and foreign trade bank Vneshtorgbank.
Russia has proactively been developing ties in the Asia-Pacific region in the last few years. In September, Foreign Minister Sergei Lavrov attended a summit held by the Asia Pacific Economic Cooperation forum, while President Putin made an official visit to Japan. Russia is also an observer in the Organization of the Islamic Conference.
The Asean member countries are Brunei, Vietnam, Indonesia, Cambodia, Laos, Malaysia, Burma, Singapore, Thailand, and the Philippines.
