OREANDA-NEWS. April 23, 2010. At the invitation of Minister of Foreign Affairs of the Russian Federation Sergey Lavrov, the Minister for Foreign Affairs of Australia, Stephen Smith, paid a working visit to the Russian Federation from April 20-22.

The Ministers conducted talks in a constructive and friendly atmosphere and discussed a wide range of bilateral and international issues.

Sergey Lavrov and Stephen Smith expressed satisfaction with the intensification of political dialogue and the positive nature of bilateral cooperation in different areas. In this regard, they noted the recently gained additional dynamics of highest-level and high-level meetings, including on the sidelines of multilateral fora, which make it possible to compare notes on a wide range of topical issues on the bilateral and global agenda.

They gave a positive assessment of the onward development of Russian-Australian trade and economic cooperation, including in the mining, agricultural and investment sectors, and noted the significant potential which the Third Meeting of the Russian-Australian Joint Commission on Trade and Economic Cooperation in Australia in the second half of this year is largely meant to tap. The Ministers welcomed the deepening of cooperation in the education sphere, including the expansion of scholarship and grant programs to develop scientific exchanges. Both sides reiterated their intention to take steps to more effectively use existing and seek new opportunities for increasing cooperation in scientific, technological, cultural, educational and humanitarian fields.

The ministers noted the urgency of strengthening the juridical base of relations between the two countries, which would doubtless help to create favorable conditions for elevating them to a higher level. In this regard, they stressed the importance of concluding intergovernmental agreements on extradition and legal assistance in criminal matters, and completing the work to reach an agreement on investment cooperation. They agreed to intensify the search for mutually acceptable solutions with regard to the interests of both sides.

A positive assessment was given of the Russian-Australian Memorandum of Understanding on Agricultural Cooperation signed on April 21, which is intended to give impetus to mutually beneficial cooperation in this field.

Stephen Smith briefed on progress made in carrying out the domestic procedures for ratification of the intergovernmental agreement for cooperation concerning peaceful uses of nuclear energy, signed in 2007. Sergey Lavrov welcomed the steps taken by the Government of Australia and noted that the early entry into force of the agreement was in both sides’ interest, as it would open new opportunities for dialogue on nuclear policy and safeguards.

Both sides reaffirmed their intention to continue the vigorous cooperation on climate change, particularly with regard for the initiative put forward by Australian Prime Minister Kevin Rudd to establish the Global Carbon Capture and Storage Institute.

They stated their mutual desire to expand cooperation in Antarctica and reaffirmed their readiness to soon sign an intergovernmental memorandum of understanding in this area.

The sides emphasized their mutual interest in the continuation of the well-proven mechanism of politico-military consultations at the Deputy Foreign Minister level involving officials from the defense ministries and other interested agencies.

In discussing international problems the sides reviewed a wide range of issues pertaining to nuclear non-proliferation and disarmament, and cooperation in countering new threats and challenges. An exchange of views took place on the situation in Afghanistan, the Iranian nuclear program, and the Korean Peninsula nuclear problem. The sides expressed the unanimous view that it was important to achieve positive results at the 2010 Review Conference of the Nuclear Non-Proliferation Treaty.

The Australian side welcomed the signing in Prague on 8 April of the new Russian-US Strategic Arms Reduction Treaty, and expressed hope that this document would contribute to bolstering the nuclear non-proliferation and disarmament regime and raising the level of trust between nuclear-weapon states and nonnuclear-weapon states parties to the NPT.

The intention of Russia and Australia to participate actively in the Asia-Pacific regional integration process and deepen cooperation in regional associations, including APEC, was noted and satisfaction at the two countries’ accession to the Asia-Europe Meeting at the next summit in Brussels in October was expressed.

The sides emphasized the importance of continuing discussions on a new regional architecture, particularly taking into account Prime Minister Kevin Rudd’s Asia Pacific Community initiative, and welcomed the outcome of the ASEAN summit on April 8-9, 2010, at which the leaders of the member countries of the Association encouraged Russia and the US to deepen their engagement in regional integration processes, including the possibility of their involvement with the East Asia Summit through appropriate modalities.

Stephen Smith extended an invitation to Sergey Lavrov to visit Australia. The invitation was accepted with appreciation.