🎙 Russia's Foreign Minister Sergey Lavrov’sremarks and answers to media questions following the 19th East Asia Summit (#EAS)
📍 Vientiane, October 11, 2024
💬Sergey Lavrov: We have completed our meetings as part of the 19th East Asia Summit. President of Russia Vladimir Putin instructed me to represent him at this event.
The discussions evidenced that our Western colleagues, who are #ASEAN partners <…> have been seeking to undermine the multilateral economic and security architecture which has evolved over decades with ASEAN at its core and which has proven its relevance and effectiveness.
However, it is obvious today that the United States and its allies decided to draw the Asia-Pacific Region into NATO’s sphere of interests by creating all these narrow and exclusive US-led military and political associations. <...>
☝️ We have highlighted that this Western policy may lead to the region’s militarisation, while also threatening stability and sustainable development in the Asian part of our shared continent.
Russia reaffirmed its unwavering support for ASEAN countries in their efforts to preserve peace and ensure equal cooperation with all ASEAN partners.
<...>
👉 Instead of using the events held as part of the East Asia Summit for pursuing vested political interests, Russia opted for promoting initiatives in several domains, including pandemic response, people-to-people contacts, including tourism, and supporting volunteering. We offer practical avenues for working together which can benefit all the participants and advocate equal and mutually beneficial cooperation. <...>
The Association hosted the Secretary-General of the Shanghai Cooperation Organisation as its guest at the East Asia Summit for the third time. He put forward a proposal to promote closer contacts between the SCO and ASEAN in various spheres that are relevant for the countries involved. <...>
We welcomed the fact that several ASEAN countries want to forge closer ties with #BRICS. Today, this structure acts as one of the cornerstones of a multipolar world order. In just a few days, Kazan will be hosting the BRICS Summit, which will be a major international event. Several ASEAN countries were invited to attend it, and they accepted these invitations.
Excerpts from responses to media questions. Key talking points:
• The final declaration has not been adopted because of the persistent attempts by the United States, Japan, South Korea, Australia and New Zealand to turn it into a purely political statement, contrary to the decades-long practice of East Asia summits, which boils down to preventing the saturation of declarations with confrontational geopolitical narratives.
• When the United States and its allies unanimously reaffirmed their commitment to ASEAN’s central role in facilitating cooperation in the region today, they were being dishonest. Everything they do is aimed at containing Russia and China. Everything that has been accomplished in the ASEAN-centric format over decades is being sacrificed to this goal now. That format was convenient for everyone and incorporated the interests of each and every stakeholder. So, the destructive nature of Washington’s actions in the region is obvious.
• We are seriously concerned about re-militarisation of Japan. Having forgotten the lessons of WWII, the Japanese authorities have stated increasing defence spending and augmenting its basic doctrines with a pre-emptive strike capability.
Read in full
📢 MGIMO University hosted the second #ASEAN and #EAS Student Model, organized by the ASEAN Centre together with the Southeast Asian Club of the Students Scientific Community of MGIMO and the MGIMO Endowment. This year the ASEAN and EAS model was dedicated to the digital agenda.
🔹️ H.E. Dato' Cheong Loon Lai, Ambassador of Malaysia to the Russian Federation who is currently chairing the ASEAN Moscow Committee 🇲🇾, H.E. Mr. Evgeny Zagaynov, Ambassador of Russia to ASEAN 🇷🇺 and Mr. Andrey Lyamin, Deputy Director-General of the Department of Asia and Pacific Cooperation of the Russian MFA 🇷🇺 addressed the delegates at the opening ceremony.
🔹️Among the distinguished guests at the opening ceremony were H.E. Jose Antonio Morato Tavares, Ambassador of Indonesia to Russia 🇮🇩, H.E. Siphandone Oybouabouddy, Ambassador of Laos to Russia 🇱🇦, and representatives from the diplomatic missions of Brunei 🇧🇳, Cambodia 🇰🇭, Myanmar 🇲🇲, and Thailand 🇹🇭. Dr. Ekaterina Koldunova, Director of the ASEAN Centre, moderated the session.
🔹️This year, the invited keynote speaker for the Model was Dr. Philips J. Vermonte, Dean of Faculty of Social Sciences, Universitas Islam Internasional Indonesia and Senior Fellow at CSIS Indonesia. Dr. Philips Vermonte delivered a lecture on the history of the formation of ASEAN and specifically addressed digital issues.
🔹️For the first time, foreign students from ASEAN countries — Cambodia, Indonesia, Laos, Malaysia, Myanmar, Thailand and Vietnam — participated as delegates in the model. The Russian participants included students from MGIMO, the Institute of Asian and African Countries at Lomonosov Moscow State University, the National Research University Higher School of Economics, the Financial University under the Government of the Russian Federation, and Tomsk State University.
🔹️Over the two days, the delegates moderated ASEAN and EAS summit sessions, presented country positions, and finalized respective joint statements. The organizers also introduced a new symbol of the Model — Vasean the Cat.
🔹️Participation in the Model allowed the students to improve their negotiation and presentation skills, explore the ASEAN Way of decision-making and try on the role of a participant of the ASEAN and EAS Summits.
@aseancentremgimo
🎙 Russia's Foreign Minister Sergey Lavrov’s answers to media questions following his visit to Malaysia
📍Kuala Lumpur, July 28, 2024
❓Question: The US has been obsessively trying to create another training ground out of countries in the southeast. Is it relevant to say that cooperation between Russia and Asia can help the region maintain its sovereignty?
💬Sergey Lavrov: Of course. I think we had a chance to see it for ourselves yesterday and the day before in Laos during the East Asia Summit (#EAS) and the ASEAN Regional Forum (#ARF).
Russia is seen as a balancing and stabilising factor in the context of countering the extremely sharp-elbowed actions by the countries outside the region, led by the US, who push their military infrastructure, including strategic arms. <...>
Our balanced and clear stance always comes from the need to create platforms for negotiations and to agree on the basis of a balance of interests. This stance receives respect. Certainly, in contrast to the invasive and aggressive course of the US and NATO for military development of the region, our stance is closer to our #ASEAN friends.
❓Question: Last night saw another escalation in the Middle East, namely a missile attack on a football ground in the Israeli-occupied Golan Heights in which mostly children and teenagers were killed and injured. Israel has accused Lebanon, while Lebanon has put the blame on Israel. What is the likelihood of an all-out war between Israel and Lebanon? What could be done to prevent further bloodshed?
💬Sergey Lavrov: So far, we do not see any possibility of stopping the bloodshed. In response to numerous calls for a ceasefire, Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu has stated that Israel will not stop until it destroys Hamas completely. I believe, and many of my colleagues share this view, that the destruction of that organisation, which has significant capabilities and enjoys broad support, including in the Muslim world, is an unrealistic task.
Russia condemns all terrorist attacks committed by any group. We condemned Hamas’s terrorist attack on Israeli civilians on October 7, 2023. But Israel’s retaliatory actions have been unacceptable. They are a flagrant violation of international humanitarian law and amount to collective punishment of people, which international conventions prohibit. <...>
I am sure that the main condition for a lasting solution to the Middle East crisis is the fulfilment of the UN Security Council resolution on the establishment of a Palestinian state as soon as possible. This cannot be achieved without restoring Palestinian unity so that the Palestinians themselves can determine the format of negotiations regarding their life in a sovereign state. This goal has not yet been achieved. Efforts must continue towards this end.
Read in full
🗓 On March 8, Deputy Minister of Foreign Affairs of the Russian Federation Andrey Rudenko participated in the East Asia Summit Senior Officials' Meeting (#EAS SOM) in Jakarta, Indonesia 🇮🇩.
Senior officials discussed issues related to preparation for the EAS Summit and EAS Foreign Ministers' Meeting later this year.
🇷🇺 The Russian Side emphasized the importance of continuing joint efforts in key areas of cooperation within the EAS including implementation of the leaders' decisions on launching Regional Mechanism of Emerging Infectious Diseases Prevention and Control as well as establishing interaction among the EAS Participating States on tourism.
As part of the exchange of views on topical issues in the Asia-Pacific, Russian delegation voiced its approach towards the military-political risks associated with building up a network of minilateral blocs of high conflict potential in the region and bringing NATO potential to the East Asia.
☝️ Russia reiterated its position on the maintaining and strengthening the central role of ASEAN in regional affairs based on ASEAN-led platforms of multilateral cooperation such as EAS, ARF and ADMM-Plus.
#EAS
🎙On July 10, H.E. Mr Anatoly Borovik, Russian Ambassador to Cambodia, held a briefing for representatives of ministries and agencies, public organizations, think tanks and mass media of the Kingdom.
The Head of the diplomatic mission touched upon the relevant topics of Russia's foreign policy, paying special attention to the situation around Ukraine, in particular, the Kiev regime's crimes against Russian civilians and the course of the Istanbul process. The fact that it was the Russian side that initiated the resumption of consultations with Ukraine was emphasized. The need to reach long-term and comprehensive agreements that would address the root causes of the Ukrainian crisis and take into account the new territorial realities was highlighted. The Ambassador presented the reports “The Human Rights Situation in Ukraine” and “Human Rights Situation in Certain Countries”.
H.E. Mr Anatoly Borovik shared the results of the XVII #BRICS Summit (July 6-7, Rio de Janeiro), presenting the main provisions of the Declaration “Strengthening Global South Cooperation for a More Inclusive and Sustainable Governance”. The participation of H.E. Mr Sergey Lavrov, Minister of Foreign Affairs of the Russian Federation, in the Foreign Ministers' meetings of #RussiaASEAN, East Asia Summit and #ASEAN Regional Forum on Security (July 10-11, Kuala Lumpur) was announced.
💬 The briefing concluded with a Q&A session attended by Captain 1st Rank Ivan Stadchenko, Military, Air and Naval Attaché of the Embassy.
#RussiaCambodia
⚡️ Outcomes of the XXVIII St. Petersburg International Economic Forum📊📊📊📊
🌐 The Forum welcomed over 24'200 participants and media representatives from 144 countries and territories, including Russia. The largest delegations came from Indonesia (over 260), China (250), the UAE (over 120), Bahrain (over 80), and Saudi Arabia (over 80).
The #BRICS+ format was represented almost in full (except Iran), alongside all associated partner countries. The number of representatives from #ASEAN countries increased fourfold.
Among the high-ranking officials attending the Forum were:
• President of the Republic of Abkhazia Badra Gunba;
• President of the Republic of Indonesia Prabowo Subianto;
• Prime Minister of the Republic of South Ossetia Konstantin Dzhussoev;
• Vice President of the Republic of South Africa Paul Mashatile;
• Vice Premier of the State Council of the People’s Republic of China Ding Xuexiang;
• Personal Representative of His Majesty the King of Bahrain on Youth and Charity Affairs, Sheikh Nasser bin Hamad Al Khalifa;
• OPEC Secretary General Haitham Al Ghais;
• BSEC Secretary General Lazăr Comănescu.
👨💼👩💼 The Forum brought together around 8'700 representatives from Russian and international businesses. The official business program featured over 370 events, including 24 business dialogues with key countries and regions, with more than 1'300 speakers and experts participating.
This year’s Guest Country was Bahrain 🇧🇭.
SPIEF also comprised: the Business Twenty Forum, the 10th Anniversary SME Forum, the Ensuring Drug Security Forum, the Creative Industries Forum, the General Assembly of OANA (Organization of Asia-Pacific News Agencies).
The Forum also hosted Youth Day — a space for dialogue, creative brainstorm, and personal growth for future leaders. Over 8'000 young participants took part, including representatives from more than 220 universities and around 60 research institutions.
🤝 On the sidelines of SPIEF, 1'060 agreements were signed for a total of 6.3 trillion rubles (approximately $80.2 billion).
💬 President of the Russian Federation Vladimir Putin at this year's plenary session said the following:
“The forum’s format traditionally fosters substantive and meaningful discussions on the most pressing issues. We are pleased that representatives from 140 countries and territories have joined this important dialogue. This year, among the important topics is the quality of growth in the context of a multipolar world and major global challenges. These include profound shifts in the global economy and demographics, such as the planet’s population dynamics, as well as social, public, and geopolitical tensions that manifest through crises and rapidly escalating regional conflicts".
🔎 Learn more:
👉Excerpts from Russian President Vladimir Putin's remarks and Q&A at a meeting with heads of the world’s leading news agencies on the sidelines of SPIEF-2025;
👉Vladimir Putin's key statements at the SPIEF plenary session;
👉 Vladimir Putin's responses to questions from the session moderator Nadim Koteich, General Manager and presenter at Sky News Arabia.
🛳️#SPIEF2025
🗓 On December 21, at the invitation of the Council of Young Diplomats of the Russian Ministry of Foreign Affairs 🇷🇺 young diplomats of the #ASEAN Member States’ Embassies in Moscow took part in a New Year cultural tour to Sergiev Posad ❄️🪆.
During the tour, the diplomats got acquainted with the center of Russian Orthodoxy - the Holy Trinity Sergius Lavra, learned about the life of its founder, St. Sergius of Radonezh.
Representatives of Cambodia 🇰🇭, Indonesia 🇮🇩, Laos 🇱🇦, Malaysia 🇲🇾, Myanmar 🇲🇲, Singapore 🇸🇬, Thailand 🇹🇭 and Vietnam 🇻🇳 inquired about the prospects of establishing contacts with Sergiev Posad as an attractive destination for tourists from Southeast Asia.
🎄The diplomats expressed hope for strengthening ASEAN-Russia socio-cultural cooperation including the youth contacts in 2025.
📄ASEAN REGIONAL FORUM STATEMENT TO PROMOTE PEACE, STABILITY, AND PROSPERITY THROUGH CONFIDENCE BUILDING MEASURES AND PREVENTIVE DIPLOMACY
✍️Adopted on the Fifth of August in the Year Two Thousand and Twenty-Two (2022) at the 29th ASEAN Regional Forum in Phnom Penh, Kingdom of Cambodia.
READ IN FULL
☝️ RECOGNISING the impacts and uncertainties posed by the growing complexities of regional and global security challenges, including traditional and non-traditional security issues, and ACKNOWLEDGING that such challenges require a holistic and comprehensive approach to address these challenges;
☝️ RECOGNISING the continued relevance of the ARF and the commitment of its members in promoting and maintaining peace, security and stability in the region and its vital role in building confidence and trust amongst its participants;
☝️ REAFFIRMING the role of #ASEAN as the primary driving force of the ARF and emphasizing that the active, and equal participation and cooperation of all ARF participants is critical for the success of the ARF;
DO HEREBY ENDEAVOUR TO:
✅ Commit to maintain and promote peace, stability and prosperity through confidence building measures and preventive diplomacy in the spirit of upholding the fundamental principles of international law as reflected in the UN Charter and ASEAN basic principles, and shared values and norms;
✅ Support ASEAN Centrality as driving force in upholding an open, transparent and inclusive regional architecture based on the principles of international law;
<...>
_________________
📄 ASEAN REGIONAL FORUM STATEMENT ON REITERATING COMMITMENT TO PRESERVE SOUTHEAST ASIA AS A NUCLEAR WEAPON-FREEZONE
READ IN FULL
☝️ Noting that the Treaty on the Southeast Asia Nuclear Weapon-Free Zone (SEANWFZ Treaty) entered into force on 27 March 1997 and 2022 marks the 25th anniversary of the entry into force of the Treaty;
☝️ Noting that the current security context requires more efforts to strengthen the indispensable role of the IAEA in nuclear non-proliferation verification through safeguards implementation and efforts to strengthen the effectiveness and efficiency of safeguards regime including through universalization of the Additional Protocol;
☝️ Recalling the UN Security Council (UNSC) Resolution 1540 (2004) and the Comprehensive Reviews on the status of its implementation, whose aim is to prevent non-state actors from getting access to nuclear, chemical or biological weapons, their means of delivery and related materials;
HEREBY DECIDES TO:
✅ Reaffirm the efforts of ARF Participants at the national, regional and international levels to promote nuclear disarmament, nuclear non-proliferation and the use of nuclear energy for peaceful purposes, strengthen nuclear safety and security, and combat nuclear terrorism;
✅ Reiterate support to the efforts of preserving Southeast Asia as a Nuclear Weapon-Free Zone and free of all other weapons of mass destruction consistent with the SEANWFZ Treaty and the ASEAN Charter;
<...>
🔴#LIVE: Remarks and answers to media questions by Russia's Foreign Minister Sergey Lavrov following 19th East Asia Summit (#EAS)
🔴X (ex-Twitter)
🔴Facebook
🔴Ruptly
🔴Russia's MFA Website
📢❗️ Dear friends, the application campaign for the fourth intake of the Master’s Degree Programme “Political Economy of the #ASEAN-Russia Strategic Partnership”, jointly developed by @aseancentremgimo and MGIMO University, is now open! Become part of our friendly international community!
🔸️The programme offers students an opportunity to study regional and global processes, macroeconomics, the contemporary international economy, ASEAN-Russia relations, as well as various aspects of international relations, regional integration, business cultures, and the digital economy, with a special focus on Russia and ASEAN.
🔸️Students will acquire the essential skills and competencies required for careers in government agencies, international organizations, business analytics, and consulting.
🔸️The programme also provides internship opportunities at leading Russian companies and government institutions, international organizations and NGOs, media companies, think tanks, universities, and research centres.
🎓 We warmly invite young people from the #ASEAN Member States to apply and pursue their studies at one of Russia’s top universities 🇷🇺
🗓 Application deadline: 31 July 2026
For more information, please visit 👇
🔗https://study-asean.mgimo.ru/
For any inquiries, please contact:
📧 [email protected]
🗣️Comment by Russian Foreign Ministry spokeswoman Maria Zakharova on the situation on the Thai-Cambodian border(December 29, 2025)
We note with satisfaction the agreements reached on a ceasefire between Thailand and Cambodia following the meeting of the General Border Committee on December 27, 2025 during which a joint statement was signed.
Achieving long-term peace will depend, first and foremost, on restoring political trust between the parties and making painstaking efforts to maintain it. We hope that the current agreement will be an important step towards resolving the protracted conflict, promoting bilateral dialogue to resolve existing differences through peaceful diplomatic means, in keeping with the spirit and letter of the Kuala Lumpur Declaration.
Today, amid the visible deterioration of the security situation in the Asia-Pacific region, it is particularly important to act in the spirit of unity and solidarity inherent in #ASEAN to overcome existing contradictions. In this regard, we support ASEAN's mediation efforts to normalise relations between Thailand and Cambodia.