Russia-ASEAN summit will confirm importance of Russia’s role in Asia Pacific - deputy foreign minister

MOSCOW, May 13. /TASS/. Holding the Russia-ASEAN summit on the territory of Russia confirms the important role Moscow is playing in the Asia Pacific Region, Russian Deputy Foreign Minister Igor Morgulov told TASS on Friday. "I will begin with stating that it is for the first time held on the Russian territory. The arrival of heads of states and governments of 10 ASEAN member countries in Sochi will already become a significant international event, a confirmation of importance of relations with Russia for this authoritative regional association that unites over 500,000 million people in a single family and represents the seventh economy in the world in total," Morgulov said. "Secondly, Russia’s meetings with ASEAN were previously held on the sidelines of ASEAN events - in Kuala Lumpur in 2005 and in Hanoi in 2010," the diplomat continued. "In the fact that the event will be held in Sochi without any connection to other events, I see recognition of a rather constructive role of our country in strengthening security and stability in the Asia Pacific, ensuring its sustainable development," he added. Russia-ASEAN summit The Russia-ASEAN summit will be held in Sochi on May 19-20 and will become the biggest international event in Russia in 2016. The summit will be held under the slogan "Towards Strategic Partnership for the Sake of the Common Good." The summit is expected to adopt a declaration that will lay the basis for an action plan of Russia-ASEAN cooperation in the political, economic and cultural spheres, as well as in the sphere of security. Russia has been a dialog partner of ASEAN since July 1996. Similar partnership summits are normally held on the territory of member-states and the choice of Sochi as venue for the Russia-ASEAN summit on the partnership’s 20th anniversary is symbolic. Read more