The Association of Southeast Asian Nations (ASEAN) is a political, economic and cultural regional intergovernmental organization established on August 8, 1967 and uniting 10 countries (Indonesia, Malaysia, Singapore, Thailand, Philippines, Brunei Darussalam, Vietnam, Laos and Myanmar, Cambodia).
In accordance with the Bangkok Declaration on the ASEAN Establishment, its main goal is to promote the development of socio-economic and cultural cooperation between member states, the strengthening of peace and stability in Southeast Asia.
The supreme body of ASEAN is the annual meetings of heads of state and government. The ASEAN Secretariat headed by the Secretary General is located in Jakarta.
Russia actively cooperates with ASEAN. Since 1996 the country has been its official dialogue partner.
The basis for the development of youth cooperation between Russia and ASEAN:
- Treaty of Friendship and Cooperation in Southeast Asia of February 24, 1976,
- Joint Declaration of the Head of State of the Russian Federation and the Heads of State and Government of the ASEAN Member States on a developed and comprehensive partnership of December 13, 2005,
- Agreement between the Government of the Russian Federation and the governments of the Member States of the Association of Southeast Asian Nations on cooperation in the field of culture of October 30, 2010,
- Sochi Declaration of the Russia-ASEAN anniversary summit in connection with the 20th anniversary of the establishment of a dialogue partnership between the Russian Federation and ASEAN "Towards a mutually beneficial strategic partnership" of May 20, 2016,
- Joint Statement of the 3rd Russia-ASEAN Summit on Strategic Partnership of November 14, 2018,
- Comprehensive Action Plan for the implementation of the strategic partnership between the Russian Federation and the Association of Southeast Asian Nations for 2021–2025.
These documents reflect the goals and mechanisms for the implementation of youth cooperation between Russia and ASEAN.
The key dialogue platform in the field of youth cooperation is the Russia-ASEAN Youth Summit which has been held regularly since 2013 alternately in Russia and the ASEAN Member States. The organizer of the Russia-ASEAN Youth Summit on the Russian side is the ASEAN Center at MGIMO established in 2010.
Sources: the website of the Ministry of Foreign Affairs of the Russian Federation and the collection "30 years of state youth policy of the Russian Federation" (30 years of state youth policy of the Russian Federation / MIREA – Russian Technological University. – M., 2022. – 340 p.)