Minister for Foreign Affairs Dr Vivian Balakrishnan participated in the Special ASEAN-Russia Foreign Ministers’ Meeting (SARFMM) via videoconference on 6 July 2021.
ASEAN Member States and Russia reaffirmed their commitment to further the ASEAN-Russia Strategic Partnership as they commemorate the 30th anniversary of ASEAN-Russia relations and the 25th anniversary of ASEAN-Russia Dialogue Relations this year. Minister Balakrishnan raised possible areas for future cooperation including supporting ASEAN’s efforts to manage COVID-19, regional economic integration and the resumption of travel in a safe and calibrated manner.
The Meeting exchanged views on the evolving regional architecture and developments in the region, and encouraged Russia to continue supporting the Five Point Consensus agreed to at the ASEAN Leaders’ Meeting in April 2021. Minister Balakrishnan called for ASEAN’s external partners to further their engagement with ASEAN, support ASEAN Centrality and unity as well as an open, inclusive and rules-based multilateral world order.
The Meeting was co-chaired by Indonesian Foreign Minister Retno Marsudi, in her capacity as country coordinator for ASEAN-Russia Dialogue Relations and Russian Foreign Minister Sergey Lavrov.
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MINISTRY OF FOREIGN AFFAIRS
SINGAPORE
6 JULY 2021