Russia signed the Treaty about economical cooperation with Association of South East Asian Nations (ASEAN) during meeting of ministers of foreign affairs in Malaysian capital. From Russian side document was signed by the head of Russian Ministry of Foreign Affairs Sergey Lavrov. This is the first out of documents, which Russia will sign with nations these days. Moscow hopes that agreements will open "new era" in cooperation between Russia and South-East Asia. It is expected that signed treaty will increase amount of mutual trade, which is on low level at present moment. In 2004 commodity circulation between ASEAN and Russia amounted to 0.4% from total. Malaysian Minister of Foreign Affairs Said Hamid Jafar Albar greeted "intention of Russia to play more sufficient role in South-East Asia". "There are opportunities for intensive partnership relationships between Russia and ASEAN", - declared minister. He noted that till recent moment relationships of region with Russia limited by co-operation in politics and security. "The time has come to expand co-operation in all fields", - said Albar.