Ministers propose summit with Russia

Ministers propose summit with Russia

INDONESIA: The Association of Southeast Asian Nations (ASEAN) is set to approve holding of its first summit with Russia in Kuala Lumpur next year, a senior official said on Monday.

Makarim Wibisono, director general for Asia Pacific and African affairs at Indonesia's Ministry of Foreign Affairs, confirmed that senior ministers from Southeast Asia had proposed holding the first leader-level meeting with Russia at next year's ASEAN Summit to be hosted by Malaysia.

The proposal is expected to be approved at the 37th annual ASEAN foreign ministers meeting being held in Jakarta on Tuesday to Wednesday, Makarim said.

The meeting is also expected to approve a detailed plan for establishing an ASEAN Security Community (ASC) being pushed by Indonesia, calling for closer cooperation in the realm of security among the 10-member organization.

The proposal has met some resistance from members, some of whom oppose ASEAN's trend away from a strict policy of non- interference with one another internal affairs. -- DPA