Lavrov to take part in Russia-ASEAN meeting, Reg Forum in Hanoi.

19/7 Tass 71

MOSCOW, July 19 (Itar-Tass) - Russian Foreign Minister Sergei Lavrov
will take part in the annual Russia-ASEAN ministerial meeting and the 17th
session of the ASEAN Regional Security Forum due in Hanoi on July 22-23, a
Russian Foreign Ministry official said on Monday.
"In the Russia-ASEAN format the foreign ministers will discuss the
state and prospects for further development of political, economic and
humanitarian cooperation," the official said. "High on the agenda will be
preparation for the second Russia-ASEAN summit in Hanoi this autumn that
will give a fresh impetus to our cooperation with the Association."
The ASEAN Regional Forum is an effective platform for security
dialogue on multilateral cooperation in such areas as nuclear
non-proliferation, emergency response, the fight against terrorism, piracy
and other types of trans-national crime.
"The agenda of the ASEAN Regional Forum includes the formation of
regional architecture in the Asia-Pacific Region and the exchange of
opinions on pressing international problems," the Ministry's official said.
At the forum the Hanoi Plan of Action will be adopted to implement the
ASEAN Vision 2020 Statement that stipulates concrete steps towards
multilateral cooperation in regional security.
Lavrov is expected to hold bilateral meetings with Vietnam's President
Nguyen Minh Triet and other top officials as well as his counterparts from
countries of the Asia-Pacific Region.

-0-isk/kud