Lavrov to visit Singapore in early August to attend ASEAN meeting - foreign ministry spoksewoman

MOSCOW, July 18. /TASS/. Russian Foreign Minister Sergey Lavrov will visit Singapore in early August to take part in a ministerial meeting of ASEAN (Association of Southeast Asian Nations) countries, Russian Foreign Ministry Spokeswoman Maria Zakharova said on Wednesday. "The Russian foreign minister will visit Singapore in early August to take part in a meeting of the foreign ministers from the ASEAN nations. The ministerial meeting will focus on measures to enhance partnership dialogue in the region. It is planned to discuss a wide range of issues of practical cooperation in the spheres of anti-terrorism, rapid response and security," she said. "Special attention will be paid to joint efforts to ensure stability in the Asia Pacific region, development of mutually beneficial ties between the ASEAN nations, the Eurasian Economic Union (EAEU) and the Shanghai Cooperation Organization (SCO)," she noted. "A meeting in the East Asia Summit format will focus on the preparations for the 13th summit in Singapore this November," Zakharova said. "Top priorities for the Russian side are strengthening a fair, polycentric system in the region and open multilateral principles for the development of network diplomacy, promoting dialogue on problems of comprehensive and indivisible security," she explained. "The next session will be dedicated to cooperation in repelling the existing threats, such as nuclear proliferation, terrorism, transnational crime." Read more