The letter of invitation has already been sent to Russian Foreign Minister H.E. Sergei Lavrov to attend the 12th East Asia Summit Foreign Ministers' Meeting and the 29th ASEAN Regional Forum in Cambodia, but Moscow has not confirmed his attendance yet, said Mr. Rafael Iangareev, Press Attaché of the Russian Embassy in Cambodia.
“Indeed, the invitation letter related to the 12th EAS Foreign Ministers’ Meeting and 29th ASEAN Regional Forum, scheduled for early August in Phnom Penh were well-received by the Embassy and forwarded to Moscow last month. Now we are waiting for the response related to the decision. After it is received, the Embassy will be glad to promptly inform the Cambodian side about it,” he told AKP yesterday.
Russia attaches great importance to the development of relations with ASEAN within the Russia-ASEAN Dialogue Partnership, as well as advancement of interactions in other ASEAN-centric frameworks, he said. “Hence we look forward to the aforementioned ministerial-level Russia-ASEAN, EAS and ARF events to be hosted by the Cambodian Chairmanship.”
“Our country is committed to further strengthen the leading role of the ASEAN in the regional affairs, to increase the efficiency of practical cooperation within ASEAN-centric platforms as well as the Russia-ASEAN dialogue format, especially aiming at implementing the decisions adopted at the Anniversary Dialogue Partnership Summit in October 2021, as well as fulfillment of the objectives of the Russian-ASEAN Year of Scientific and Technical Cooperation and other areas of our strategic partnership,” he underlined.
Cambodia is going to host the 55th ASEAN Foreign Ministers’ Meeting (AMM) and Related Meetings, including ASEAN Post Ministerial Conferences, ASEAN Plus Three Foreign Minister’s Meeting, East Asia Summit Foreign Ministers’ Meeting, ASEAN Regional Forum and so on from July 30 to Aug. 6, 2022.
Up to now Russia is one of the 18 members of EAS and of the 27 members of ARF.
Source: Agency Kampuchea Press