Indonesian President: Russia, ASEAN to Discuss Strengthening Ties

Jakarta, 8 Sya’ban 1437/16 May 2016 (MINA) – The upcoming summit of Russia and the Association of Southeast Asian Nations (ASEAN) will contribute to further development of comprehensive and dynamic partnership of Moscow with that regional organization and will make it possible to take relations to a higher level, Indonesian President Joko Widodo told TASS in an exclusive interview.

“I am convinced the summit will make it possible to strengthen relations between ASEAN and Russia,” Widodo said.

“Moscow is a strategic partner both for the Association and Indonesia. At the upcoming meeting, the leaders of ASEAN and Russia are to discuss ways to further strengthen our cooperation.”

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 dialogue 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. (T/R07/R01)

Mi’raj Islamic News Agency (MINA)