Russia-ASEAN summit will be of key importance for Russia and Asia-Pacific - diplomat

MOSCOW, April 6. /TASS/. The Russia-ASEAN summit in Sochi on May 19-20 will be of key importance for Russia and the Asia-Pacific, Russian Foreign Ministry’s Ambassador-at-Large Alexander Ivanov told TASS on Wednesday. "The Russia-ASEAN summit will be of key importance for our cooperation with the ASEAN’s ‘Ten’ and for the Asia-Pacific in general," Ivanov said after the session of Russia-ASEAN Eminent Persons Group. "ASEAN (Association of Southeast Asian Nations) plays a leading role in new integrational Asia-Pacific schemes that include such notable mechanisms as the East Asia Summit, regional ASEAN forum on security, meetings of ASEAN defense ministers with dialogue partners and other formats. ASEAN plays a key role in all these mechanisms, that’s why the anniversary summit in Sochi will not only give breakthrough signals and decisions on Russia-ASEAN partnership but will also contribute in the broader context to strengthening stability and security in the Asia-Pacific," he added. Commenting on the work of the Group, Ivanov said that it "proceeds very constructively, in the spirit of friendship, cooperation and mutual understanding." "We hope to prepare a report today and tomorrow with very interesting proposals. The document will be presented to the leaders of Russia and ASEAN in Sochi, and the leadership will then assess our work," the diplomat said. The third session of the Russia-ASEAN Eminent Persons Group is held in Moscow today. The Group was established by the foreign ministers of Russia and ASEAN at a meeting in Kuala Lumpur on 5 August 2015. The Group is tasked with developing conceptual vision of relations between Russia and ASEAN and preparing a report with recommendation on developing cooperation for the Russia-ASEAN summit devoted to the 20th anniversary dialogue partnership. The summit will take place in Sochi on May 19-20. Read more