Sochi is 100% ready to host Russia-ASEAN summit - Kremlin official

SOCHI, May 18. /TASS/. Everything is ready in Russia’s Sochi to host the summit of the Association of Southeast Asian Nations (ASEAN) and Russia on May 19-20, head of the Russian presidential administrative directorate Alexander Kolpakov said on Wednesday. "There is 100% readiness. We are fully ready," Kolpakov told reporters. The greatest challenge in preparing for the summit is a completely new team, "but there is no doubt about it," he said. When asked how many sausages the journalists have already eaten since the press center opened, Kolpakov said "there is a budget, but there are no limits on the food." "As everyone shows and covers information when they are full," he joked. Speaking about dishes for the delegations, the Kremlin official said the menu is in line with the protocol. "Today we have full import replacement. All products are made in Russia’s territory," Kolpakov said. "Of course, we take into account the interests of all delegations." 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