ASEAN officials in Moscow

ASEAN officials in Moscow

MOSCOW (AP): Southeast Asian officials discussed the turmoil in Asia's financial markets and recent nuclear tests by India and Pakistan during a meeting in Moscow yesterday, news agencies said.

Russian foreign ministry officials also took part in the conference of the Association of Southeast Asian Nations as part of plans to expand Russia's relations with ASEAN, the ITAR-Tass and Interfax news agencies reported.

"Holding regular consultations on international and regional issues demonstrates our desire for closer political ties, based on the similarity of Russia's and ASEAN positions," Russian Deputy Foreign Minister Grigory Karasin was quoted as saying.

ASEAN secretary-general Rodolfo Severino was also to hold separate talks with top officials at the Russian Foreign Ministry and the Ministry of Science and Technology, ITAR-Tass said.