From November8 to 9, 2004, countriesparticipating in the Agreement of ASEAN on counteraction to transborder smoke formation in result of forest fires, held a conference in Hanoi. Within the frames of cooperation between Russiaand ASEAN, conference participants considered prospective of Russian technologies and equipment application for counteraction to man-caused and natural disasters including fighting forest and soil fires.

In the course of the conference, IRKUT Corporation presented its integrated aerial suite in the set of the Be-200 amphibian and the unmanned aerial vehicle (UAV). The presentation was made according to an agreement between the Russian Minister for Foreign Affairs Mr. S.V. Lavrov and the ASEAN General Secretary Mr. O.K. Yong.

High-tech integrated aerial suite of IRKUT aroused serious interest with specialists in fire fighting who highlighted its huge potential for effective fighting of forest fires that cause significant economic damage to ASEAN countries. Based upon results of the presentation, a Special Working Team decided to continue consulting IRKUT Corporation in order to work out mechanisms of interaction within the proposed fire-fighting project. The issue is planned to be included into agenda of a meeting between Russian and ASEAN Ministers scheduled for the end of November 2004 in Vientiane(Laos).