Thailand’s PM Prayut Chan-o-cha says Thailand supports raising the level of cooperation between Russia and ASEAN
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“I have no doubt that the jubilee Russia-ASEAN summit will facilitate multilateral cooperation between ASEAN and Russia and will lay a path toward strategic partnership between the two sides,” Prayut said.
He thinks that Russia “plays a big role by contributing to peace and prosperity in Southeast Asia and Asia Pacific.” “We hope that Russia will continue supporting ASEAN’s regional architecture, especially through its involvement in such formats as East Asia Summit, ASEAN Regional Forum, council of defense ministers,” he added.
Russia has been ASEAN’s dialogue partner since July 1996. Russian President Vladimir Putin said in his address to participants in the meeting in Sochi that “achieved results represent a good basis for taking Russia-ASEAN relations to a qualitatively new level of strategic partnership.” “This is precisely the main aim of the jubilee Russia-ASEAN summit that will take place on May 19-20 in Sochi,” he added.
Full article: Russia and ASEAN on way toward strategic partnership – Thailand’s PM (ITAR-TASS)
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