SINGAPORE, March 13. /TASS/. Southeast Asian countries are interested in Russia’s growing role in the region, first and foremost, as far as the war on terror is concerned, Alexander Korolyov, a leading researcher at Singapore’s Lee Kuan Yew School of Public Policy, told TASS on Monday.

According to him, "the fight against terrorism has become a very pressing issue for members of the Association of Southeast Asian Nations (ASEAN)." "These countries, Singapore in particular, are interested in assessing Russia’s experience," the expert added.

Besides, Korolyov emphasized the importance of active cooperation between Russia and Vietnam. "Vietnam is not only a strategic and trade partner for Russia, it can also provide some kind of an entrance ticket to the ASEAN." The expert pointed out that it was Hanoi that helped Moscow "to build cooperation with the Association in the 1990s as well as integrate into various ASEAN institutions."

Korolyov added that "Vietnam is very much interested in forming a multipolar political system in Southeast Asia in order to prevent the kind of confrontation between the United States and China that is taking place at the moment.".