Russia, Pakistan top diplomats discuss regional issues on ASEAN sidelines

Russia’s Foreign Minister Sergei Lavrov held talks with Pakistan’s Foreign Minister Ishaq Dar in Manila on July 22, on the sidelines of meetings organised under the Association of Southeast Asian Nations (ASEAN).

The meeting in the Philippine capital began with a handshake, with both ministers addressing each other as “dear friend” and underscoring the importance of the переговоры.

The latest engagement follows a previous contact in April, when the two ministers held a telephone conversation to discuss developments in the Persian Gulf. The talks at that time included Pakistan’s mediating role in efforts to secure sustainable agreements between Iran and the United States. Lavrov reaffirmed Russia’s willingness to support those efforts.

Lavrov arrived in Manila on July 21 and is scheduled to remain until July 23. His programme includes a series of bilateral meetings as well as participation in multilateral formats involving ASEAN.

These include meetings between Russia and ASEAN, the East Asia Summit (EAS), and the ASEAN Regional Forum (ARF), which focuses on regional security issues.

ASEAN, founded in 1967, comprises 11 member states: Brunei, Timor-Leste, Vietnam, Indonesia, Cambodia, Laos, Malaysia, Myanmar, Singapore, Thailand and the Philippines.

By Tamilla Hasanova