ASEAN proposes summit with Russia

ASEAN proposes summit with Russia

VIENTIANE: Leaders of the Association of Southeast Asian Nations (ASEAN) proposed to hold a Russia-ASEAN summit in Kuala Lumpur in 2005 and to send a relevant invitation to Russian President Vladimir Putin.

Russian Foreign Minister Sergei Lavrov was informed about this decision in a meeting with ASEAN foreign affairs ministers in the capital of Laos on Monday. The ministers discussed the development of Russia-ASEAN practical cooperation and outlined the plan of preparations for the summit.

This meeting also marked Russia's accession to the Treaty of Amity and Cooperation in Southeast Asia.

By signing the treaty, Russia officially joined one of the regional legal documents aimed to provide peace and stability in the Asia-Pacific region.

Russia's accession to the treaty is highly important for this region, according to Indonesian foreign ministry's official spokesman, Marty Natalegawa, in an interview with RIA Novosti on Monday.

"This importance cannot be overestimated," he said. "Russia is a great country, a permanent member of the UN Security Council. It is playing a great role in the region," he noted.

"We expect this accession to promote peace and security in the region and hope Russia will keep playing a positive role in Southeast Asia," he concluded. -- RIA Novosti