Press center of Russia-ASEAN summit opens in Sochi

SOCHI, May 18. /TASS/. The international press center of the Russia-ASEAN summit opens today in Sochi. Organizers say that they prepared everything necessary for comfortable work of 850 accredited journalists. The press center is set up in the Imeritinsky hotel near the Olympic Park. "The press center is divided into zones for representatives of print media, radio and television companies. High speed WiFi is available on the whole territory," press secretary of the Administrative Directorate of the Russian president Yelena Krylova told TASS. A total of 132 working places with personal computers is available for writing correspondents. Krylova said that halls for briefings with means for simultaneous interpretation were equipped, as well as zones for business communication and rest. "Lunch breaks for journalists will be held in two cafes of the press center," she added. The press center was set up by specialists from the Administrative Directorate, Administrative Directorate of the Russian president for public relations and communications, Administrative Directorate for press service and information. "Preparations for the summit are 100% complete," head of the Administrative Directorate of the Russian president Alexander Kolpakov told TASS. He noted that only Russian-made products will be used to provide catering to participants in the summit and journalists. "A menu with Russian cuisine is planned for official receptions but culinary traditions of the South East Asian countries will be taken into account at less official events," Kolpakov said. 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