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🎙Deputy Foreign Minister Andrey Rudenko’s interview to Izvestiya news agency (excerpt): Question: The term "Russia's pivot to the East" appeared many years ago, but it was the last year that showed that "the pivot to the East" is not a matter of choice, but a necessity. What specific steps have been taken by Russia to strengthen ties with our Eastern partners? Answer: From the Foreign Ministry's point of view, we see no reason to say that it is the "pivot to the East." Our country has always been and remains an integral part of Asia. We are consistently working to ensure our interests in this part of the world. Cooperation with the countries of the region is developing in a wide range of areas. These are trade, economic and investment ties, joint infrastructure projects, interaction in the field of energy and food supplies. Russian experience in countering new challenges and threats, including fight against terrorism, drug trafficking, and transnational crime is in demand by our Asian partners. Russia is also a high foreign policy priority for the regional states in terms of strengthening their defense potentials. Humanitarian aspects - educational exchanges, tourism, healthcare are top of the Russian-Asian cooperation agenda. The established healthcare interaction was widely used during the pandemic, but relevant work has been going on for many years in the interest of joining forces to counter the spread of infectious diseases. We have always advocated and continue to advocate for the preservation and strengthening of regional cultural diversity, the unique traditional way of life and identity of the peoples of Asia. We are building up cooperation through the multilateral mechanisms operating here. The backbone element of the regional architecture is the Shanghai Cooperation Organization. Relations with #ASEAN are in their fourth decade, and next year it will be 5 years since they reached the level of strategic partnership. Russia is an active participant of such ASEAN-led formats as the East Asia Summit, the ASEAN Regional Forum, the ASEAN Defence Ministers' Meeting-Plus. Thanks to this determined work with the region, the necessary basis has been created, which makes it possible to further build up our multifaceted ties in Asia. This applies primarily to the business sector, which is now being actively reoriented from the Western direction. "Pivot to the East" is not a forced move or, as you say, the need to actively work in Asia that has arisen since 2022. The fact is that until recently mass media paid less attention to the Asian track of our foreign policy compared to the Western one. Question: What other significant "footholds" does Russia have in the vast region of Asia besides China? Answer: One of the important regions for us is the Southeast Asia, where we interact both with countries on a bilateral basis and with #ASEAN as a whole. We are developing multifaceted cooperation with India. Broad cooperation programs are being implemented with Mongolia, including in a trilateral format with China. We are strengthening ties with the countries of the Indian Ocean region, particularly since Russia acquired the status of a dialogue partner of such a large regional platform as IORA (Indian Ocean Rim Association) last year. And of course, the key and even systemic driver of growth is the expanding and consolidating cooperation space of the #SCO.

📰Article by Russia' Foreign Minister Sergey Lavrov ‘The Helsinki Act’s 50th anniversary: Expectations, reality, and future’ Published in Rossiyskaya Gazeta on August 1, 2025 ✍️ Marking the 80th Anniversary of Victory in the Great Patriotic War and WWII in 2025 serves as an occasion for us to recall and reaffirm the importance of peace which came at such a high cost for our forefathers. We must also be mindful of how fragile this peace architecture is. In fact, its integrity hinges upon the ability of countries and their people to engage in coordinated collective action. Back in 1945, the year of Victory, major powers realised the need to overcome their differences for the sake of the humankind as a whole. This paved the way for establishing the United Nations as one of the key derivatives of this vision. In fact, the purposes and principles set out in the UN Charter remain relevant to this day and are in step with the reality of an emerging multipolar world order. But there is another international event which happened precisely 50 years ago and is worth commemorating. This is when the Helsinki Final Act of the Conference on Security and Cooperation in Europe (CSCE) was signed. It became a landmark event in consolidating the post-war architecture based on the framework resulting from the Yalta and Potsdam conferences. ☝️ Those camping on unfriendly positions towards Russia seek to diminish and sweep under the carpet the fact that our country, which was the USSR at that time, played a leading role in the Helsinki process, while also distorting the objectives the Soviet leaders were pursuing. We are facing groundless and unappealing accusations of undermining the European security framework, and politicians in the EU and NATO have made no secret of their intention to re-write the outcomes of WWII and do not shy away from concocting barbaric fakes for that purpose. Key points: • Western countries have breached all the OSCE agreements on arms control and confidence-building measures. Russia has appealed to the conscience of Western elites more than once, inviting them to coordinate reliable security guarantees based on fundamental commitment adopted within the OSCE. • Europe is deeply immersed in Russophobia, and its militarisation is essentially becoming uncontrollable. There are more than enough facts of this. <...> This brings historical events to mind: with their current leaders, modern Germany and the rest of Europe are transforming into a Fourth Reich. • In recent years, the West has openly shown absolute contempt for the OSCE’s principles & embarked on the path of suppressing rivals through economic pressure, including unlawful unilateral measures against Russia, Belarus and any other country that strives to defend its legitimate national interests. The OSCE marked a decisive end to practical cooperation between the East and the West. • The scale of accumulated OSCE problems is immense. Burdened by them, the Organisation has been side-lined in international affairs. The Vienna platform no longer offers space for cooperation or security. The architects of the Helsinki Final Act did not envisage such a future for the pan-European process. It is high time to consider whether such an Organisation has any reason to persist. • Today, the ideas of sovereign equality of states and their mutually respectful dialogue – strangled in the OSCE – are being realised through multilateral cooperation projects within the CSTO, the CIS, #SCO, and other regional frameworks across Eurasia. • As a strategic objective, Russia envisions forming a flexible and resilient architecture of equal & indivisible security and cooperation in Eurasia, capable of addressing contemporary challenges. • There will be no future for the OSCE if NATO and EU countries do away with the consensus rule and continue using this platform with its headquarters in Vienna as their private mouthpiece for spreading shameless propaganda campaigns to demonise Russia & any other parties who break ranks, while backing their underlings in Kiev. Read in full

🇷🇺🇱🇦 On June 25−29, Foreign Minister of the Lao People’s Democratic Republic (Lao PDR) Thongsavanh Phomvihane arrives in Moscow on an official visit. He is to hold talks with Foreign Minister Sergey Lavrov, and Minister of Construction and Utilities, Chair of the Russian chapter of the Russia-Laos Intergovernmental Commission for Trade, Economic, Scientific and Technical Cooperation Irek Fayzullin. Rooted in years-old traditions of friendship and cooperation, Russia-Laos ties enjoy a high level of trust. Our country has proactively supported the people of Laos in their national liberation struggle, as well as their efforts to establish and develop the Lao People’s Democratic Republic. 🗓 October 7 will mark 65 years of diplomatic relations between our two countries. On March 9, 1994, Russia and Lao PDR signed the Treaty on the Principles of Friendly Relations. In October 2011, they adopted a Declaration for Strategic Partnership between Russia and Laos in the Asia-Pacific Region. There has been positive momentum in the political dialogue between Russia and Laos, including at the highest level. <...> The two countries have also stepped up on the the parliamentary track, bolstering their ties. 🤝 Russia and Laos share close or converging views views on key international matters, which serves as a solid foundation for their effective cooperation within the leading international and regional structures. Vientiane has adopted a balanced position in the context of the Ukraine crisis and has demonstrated that it understood the causes which led to the special military operation. Laos has been supporting most of Russia’s initiatives at the UN General Assembly and has not joined the confrontational anti-Russian resolutions. The two countries have been working together within #ASEAN and other ASEAN-centric mechanisms in a constructive manner. Laos has expressed its readiness to take part in the activities of the Shanghai Cooperation Organisation (#SCO) as a dialogue partner. <...> In his remarks at the #BRICS meeting in the outreach/BRICS+ format in October 2024 in Kazan, President of the Lao PDR Thongloun Sisoulith said that his country was interested in joining BRICS in the future. One of the priority areas of bilateral relations is the development of military and military-technical cooperation. Lao representatives consistently participate in international events organised by the Russian Ministry of Defence. <...> Our two nations are intensifying collaboration in security and law enforcement. 📈 Bilateral trade and economic relations continue to grow steadily. In 2024, trade turnover between Russia and Laos increased by 65 percent to $23.8 million. Cultural engagements thrive. Education remains a vital area of cooperation. Over 8'000 civilian and 2'000 military specialists for Laos have been trained in Russia.

🎙 Foreign Minister Sergey Lavrov’s opening remarks at the meeting with Foreign Minister of China Wang Yi and Deputy Prime Minister and Foreign Minister of Lao PDR Saleumxay Kommasith(Vientiane, July 25, 2024) 💬 I would like to thank our Lao and Chinese partners for agreeing to hold today's meeting in a trilateral format. This is an excellent opportunity for us to touch base on a wide range of issues aimed at promoting regional interconnectedness in Eurasia for the benefit of our peoples and all those who live on our continent. Additionally, we hope to discuss ways to address the challenges our countries face in strengthening food, energy and transportation security. 🇷🇺🇨🇳🇱🇦 Our three countries are united by common approaches to creating an extensive cooperation space on the continent, and strengthening cross-border transport, sales, production and logistics mechanisms. This meeting is taking place on the sidelines of high-level #ASEAN events. The Association is a vital component of the emerging more equitable multipolar world order. ASEAN has been and remains the core of region-wide efforts aimed at ensuring a stable and secure non-bloc development of the Asia-Pacific region. 🤝 We believe that the significant potentials of Russia and China, as well as their participation in such new multilateral associations as #BRICS and the #SCO, can have a positive impact on our interaction with the Association. This will also enhance our cooperation with individual Member States of ASEAN, helping us address global and regional issues based on the comprehensive and interconnected principles of the UN Charter.

🗓 On July 26, Vientiane hosted Foreign Minister Sergey Lavrov’s annual meeting with the Foreign Ministers representing the Member States of the Association of Southeast Asian Nations (#ASEAN). One of the main outcomes of this conference consisted of the adoption of a Joint Statement on the 20th Anniversary of Russia’s accession to the Treaty of Amity and Cooperation in Southeast Asia, a fundamental document for the association, which provides for building a stable regional security architecture in the Asia Pacific Region. During the meeting, the participants reviewed the performance under the Comprehensive Plan of Action to Implement the Association of Southeast Asian Nations and the Russian Federation Strategic Partnership in 2021-2025, and agreed to draft a new medium-term document of this kind for the next period. Discussions also focused on measures to expand practical cooperation on political, security, trade and economic matters, as well as humanitarian affairs. The participating Foreign Ministers noted the successful launch of a new cooperation track in 2024, which deals with the digital transition. During the meeting, they placed special emphasis on research-intensive sectors and undertaking initiatives to develop smart cities. Russia’s partners praised it for holding advanced training courses for ASEAN specialists. 🌐 The participants exchanged views on the international agenda, confirming that Russia and ASEAN shareconverging approaches regarding the most urgent and topical global and regional challenges, and are committed to building a just world order based on the principles of international law, inclusivity and equality. In this context, Russia drew the attention of its partners to President Vladimir Putin’s initiative to create a Eurasian security framework. The conversation also touched upon efforts to promote integration processes across Greater Eurasia. In this context, the participants discussed opportunities for expanding ASEAN’s ties with the Eurasian Economic Union and the Shanghai Cooperation Organisation (#SCO). ASEAN thanked Russia for supporting the association’s central role in regional affairs. 🤝 As per tradition, the meeting took place in a friendly atmosphere. #RussiaASEAN

🎙Foreign Minister Sergey Lavrov’s remarks and answers to media questions following the SCO Foreign Ministers Council meeting(Astana, May 21, 2024) Key talking points: ▪️ At a group meeting of the heads of delegations with President of Kazakhstan and during the Ministerial Council meeting, we expressed our deepest condolences and solidarity with the Iranian people, as well as confidence that Tehran will continue its foreign policy, including with regard to its active participation in the Shanghai Cooperation Organisation. • The #SCO remains one of the supporting pillars of the multipolar world order. It is well positioned to become a driving force behind transforming Eurasia into a single continental space of peace, stability, mutual trust and progress. • Security can be reliably ensured only by the Eurasian countries themselves, without the intervention of extra-regional forces. We observe such attempts on the part of the United States, the European Union and NATO, which strive to assume responsibility for everything that happens in the region. • We are all aware of the importance of intensifying the work of the SCO, considering its weight and role in Eurasia, and its partners, including the OSCE, the CIS, the EAEU, and ASEAN. • Developing common approaches to ensuring Eurasian security and cooperation by the countries of this continent is a crucial goal. We underscored that the SCO could well catalyse these processes with the involvement of other partners in the region. • The SCO has two observers and 14 dialogue partners. Recently, Laos and Algeria have applied for partner status. We discussed improving the efficiency of interaction with these countries within the SCO Plus format. 🇧🇾 Starting from the July summit, Belarus will become a full-fledged SCO member. President of Belarus Alexander Lukashenko will take part in all events of the Astana summit without exception. The Belarusian minister attended our discussion. 🇲🇳Mongolia is the obvious next candidate for SCO membership. Read in full

🗓 On May 20-21, Foreign Minister Sergey Lavrovtook part in the Foreign Ministers Council meeting of the Shanghai Cooperation Organisation member-countries. The participants focused on the organisation’s activities in the context of preparations for the meeting of the SCO Heads of State Council meeting in Astana on July 3-4. They also discussed draft documents to be presented for the leaders’ consideration. The participants will reflect their coordinated approaches to the SCO’s further development and current global and regional issues in the Astana Declaration. The admission of Belarus will be an important step towards strengthening the #SCO. The Ministers endorsed the relevant draft decisions of the Heads of State Council. They also coordinated proposals of the SCO Foreign Ministers Council on comprehensive improvement of the organisation’s activities in the context of current geopolitical realities. They adopted draft leadership statements and conceptual documents as a foundation for promoting cooperation in energy, transport, logistics and environmental protection. During a detailed exchange of views on key regional and international issues, the Ministers discussed the situation in the Gaza Strip and the Middle East as a whole, and, in part, settlement of the Palestinian-Israeli conflict. They paid special attention to the SCO’s efforts to facilitate stabilization in Afghanistan, considering the importance of this factor for the security of the SCO space. 🤝 FM Lavrov also had a number of bilateral meetings.

🎙 President of Russia Vladimir Putin's speech at the meeting of the Shanghai Cooperation Organisation Heads of State Council. 💬 President Putin: We believe it is important that all members of the association share their approaches to the situation in global politics, security, the social and economic spheres. At the same time, our organisation is strongly committed to creating a truly just and multipolar world order, an order based on international law and common principles of mutually respectful cooperation between sovereign states with the central, coordinating role of the United Nations. Our organisation plays an increasingly important role in international affairs and brings a substantial contribution to maintaining peace and stability, ensuring sustainable economic growth of its member states and developing ties between peoples. I would like to take this opportunity to thank my colleagues in the #SCO member states who have expressed their support for the Russian leadership in defending the constitutional order, lives and security of its citizens. We greatly appreciate this. Russia has been in favour of strengthening cooperation between the member states in investment, banking and finance, as well as in industry, energy, transport and logistics, agriculture, telecommunications, digitalisation and high tech. Counterterrorism, countering extremism and religious radicalism, curbing drug trafficking and other types of smuggling, combating militant formations must remain a priority of the SCO. It is a matter of satisfaction that the authority and influence of our association continue to improve, and other countries and international structures show interest in its activity. They trust us and want to be friends and work together. Read in full

🗓 Foreign Minister Sergey Lavrov attended the meeting of the Shanghai Cooperation Organisation’s Foreign Ministers Council, held in Panaji, state of Goa, India, on May 4 and 5. The Foreign Ministers discussed the agenda for the upcoming meeting of the #SCO Heads of State Council (HSC), which is scheduled to take place in New Delhi on July 3 and 4. Among other things, they reviewed draft documents to be submitted to the heads of state. 🌐 The Ministers paid special attention to expanding the organisation’s membership, with Iran expected to be granted full SCO membership at the upcoming summit. Procedures to accept Belarus into the organisation have been launched and are well underway. Bahrain, Kuwait, Myanmar, the Maldives and the UAE are about to join SCO-led cooperation efforts as new dialogue partners. The meeting included a detailed exchange of views on key regional and international matters, during which the participants were unanimous in stating the importance of deeper foreign policy coordination among SCO countries, primarily at the UN. In the context of the combined efforts by SCO member states to counter terrorism, extremism, drug trafficking and cross-border organised crime, the foreign ministers paid special attention to the situation in Afghanistan, considering the urgency of preventing the instability there from spilling over into the SCO space. Read in full

📅 On May 4 and 5, Foreign Minister Sergey Lavrov will be taking part in the meeting of the Shanghai Cooperation Organisation’s Foreign Ministers’ Council (#SCO FMC) in Panaji, Republic of India. 🇷🇺🇮🇳 This meeting will open the final stage in the preparations for the SCO Summit under India’s presidency, which is scheduled to take place in New Delhi on July 3 and 4. <...> Russia praises its Indian partners for their proactive efforts and is committed to effectively enabling them to deliver on their agenda. The Foreign Ministers will focus on preparing the agenda for the upcoming meeting of the SCO Heads of State Council (HSC). Among other things, they will discuss draft documents to be submitted to the heads of state. The Foreign Ministers will exchange views on key regional and international matters with a focus on foreign policy coordination with the aim of strengthening the UN’s central coordinating role in reliably ensuring global security and sustainable economic development. During the SCO FMC meeting, participants will pay special attention to expanding the ranks of the organisation. The Ministers will approve the SCO HSC draft resolution granting membership status to Iran and will discuss the application by Belarus asking if ways can be found to accelerate the procedures to accept it into the organisation. 🤝 Russia stands ready to work closely with all its partners in order to prepare a meaningful agenda and ensure the success of the upcoming SCO Summit in New Delhi, as well as further step-up constructive cooperation within the organisation. Read in full