1. Among the experts and scholars, the viewpoint prevails that the international terror threat is actual, in main, for the Near and Middle East countries. Recently, however, the problem has become increasingly important as a state’s priority in other regions, in particular, in the South-East Asia (SEA), as well as for the Associations of the South-East Asian Nations (ASEAN).
2. After the 1997-98 financial crisis, the Russia-ASEAN cooperation had noticeably reduced, for the both sides confined themselves to solving the internal problems. Just in the first years of the 21st century, there were signs of some activities. Thus, the leaders of the ASEAN and Russian Federation sighed some documents (2003-2004) that stated their readiness to expand contacts, in main, along the line of the cooperation in fighting the international terrorism. At that, Russia has joined the ASEAN Treaty on Friendship and Cooperation.
3. Lately, there is a certain progress in the Russia-ASEAN relations. The number of high-ranking visits increase, the infrastructure of political dialogue is building up, the contacts between the business communities become stronger, mechanisms of expanding the humanitarian contacts are developed, their commitment legal base is improved. For instance, in 2007, the Financial Foundation on Dialogue Partnership was established, the Russia-ASEAN Educational Center was set up, some priority projects of cooperation were defined.
4. Thus, despite some major-toned statements made by officials and in joint Russia-ASEAN declarations, currently, their interactivities in preventing acts of terror in the South China Sea can hardly be seen as dynamic and effective. And it is likely, optimizing the cooperation would be confronted with serious difficulties.