Russia keen to take part in ASEAN economic projects.

SINGAPORE, July 27 Kyodo

Russia told Southeast Asian leaders Tuesday that it is interested in taking part in ASEAN's economic projects.

"The Russian experience could be used in the development of the common railway network of the Southeast Asian states," Russian Foreign Minister Igor Ivanov said in a speech during the annual meeting of Association of Southeast Asian Nations foreign ministers and its dialogue partners.

Russia is one of ASEAN's 10 dialogue partners. Ivanov expressed interest in participating in specific projects in such fields as transport, oil production, energy and scientific and technological cooperation.

Russia is also prepared to provide scientific and technological assistance in the creation of a power grid for ASEAN countries and construction of an ASEAN gas pipeline, he said.

Singaporean Foreign Minister Shanmugam Jayakumar, in opening the meeting, extended "an open invitation" to ASEAN's dialogue partners to cooperate with ASEAN in its economic projects under the Hanoi Plan of Action -- a six-year plan adopted last year.