Lavrov to attend APEC ministerial meeting in Vietnam

DA NANG/Vietnam/, November 8. /TASS/. Russian Foreign Minister Sergey Lavrov will take part on Wednesday in a joint meeting of foreign ministers and ministers of trade of the Asia-Pacific Economic Cooperation (APEC) forum in Da Nang, Vietnam. According to Russian Foreign Ministry Spokeswoman Maria Zakharova, the meeting will sum up the results of work on priority issues of APEC-2017 agenda. This is advancing stable, innovative and comprehensive growth, deepening regional economic integration, enhancing food security amid climate change and boosting human potential in the digital era. Russia’s goals At the meeting, Russia plans to focus on Moscow’s proposals on linking integration processes in the Asia-Pacific Region and Eurasia, integrating remote territories of APEC economies in the regional system of economic ties, and ensuring growth with the emphasis on countering international terrorism. The goal of these initiatives is to foster equal and indivisible social and economic development of the Asia-Pacific Region. The ministers will adopt a joint statement after the meeting and will also agree on a draft final declaration for APEC economic leaders, who will meet in Da Nang on November 10-11. Traditionally, Lavrov holds a series of bilateral meetings on the sidelines of major international forums. Zakharova earlier said the schedule for these contacts was being detailed. Russia and the US The key intrigue on the sidelines of APEC Economic Leaders’ Week is the expected Russian-US contacts. Russian Deputy Foreign Minister Sergey Ryabkov said earlier the Russian and US foreign ministers could meet on the sidelines of APEC events in Vietnam. However, US Secretary of State Rex Tillerson is accompanying US President Donald Trump during his tour of Asian countries, and Trump is expected to arrive in Da Nang only on November 10. Russian President Vladimir Putin will take part in the APEC summit on November 10-11. Kremlin Spokesman Dmitry Peskov said earlier both the Russian and US presidents will be in Da Nang and "they will definitely have a possibility to hold a conversation one way or another." Read more