PHL Embassy Hosts Russian Foreign Minister, Key Russian Officials, ASEAN Ambassadors to Celebrate ASEAN@50
Philippine Ambassador to the Russian Federation Carlos D. Sorreta (6th from left) with Russian Foreign Minister Sergey Lavrov (5th from left) and the Ambassadors and Chargé d’Affaires, a.i., of ASEAN member countries at the Philippine Embassy in Moscow on 15 September 2017. (From left: Mr. Francisco Munis, CDA of Malaysia, Mr. Lai Ngoc Doan, CDA of Vietnam, H.E. Lim Kheng Hua of Singapore, H.E. Kriangsak Kittichaisaree of Thailand, FM Lavrov, Amb. Sorreta, H.E. Ker Vicseth of Cambodia, H.E. Mohamad Wahid Supriyadi of Indonesia, H.E. Dr. Siviengphet Phetvorasack of Laos, H.E. Ko Ko Shein of Myanmar, and Mr. Jefferson Leong Weng Hong, CDA of Brunei Darussalam. (Photo by C. Narvaez)
22 September 2017 MOSCOW – In a historic first for both the Philippine Embassy and the ASEAN Moscow Committee (AMC), Russian Foreign Minister Sergey Lavrov joined the Ambassadors of the ten Southeast Asian countries to the Russian Federation in celebrating the 50th anniversary of ASEAN at a luncheon held at the Philippine Embassy on 15 September 2017.
The ASEAN Moscow Committee (AMC) currently chaired by the Philippines.
Also at the lunch were other senior officials of the Russian Ministry of Foreign Affairs, including Mme. Lyudmila Vorobiova, Director of the Third Asian Department, and H.E. Alexander Ivanov, Russia’s incoming Ambassador to ASEAN.
“This lunch gave us the opportunity to interact with Foreign Minister Lavrov in a meaningful way as well as the chance to thank him for the many initiatives that Russia has taken to deepen relations between Russia and ASEAN,” Ambassador Sorreta stated.
He also noted that what makes this commemorative event even more significant is the fact that Foreign Minister Lavrov is the first Russian Minister and the highest-ranking Russian government official to have ever graced an event in the Embassy in the whole 41 years of Philippine-Russia relations. “In a way, this is an indication of the blossoming relations we have with Russia, especially following President Rodrigo Duterte’s foreign policy rebalancing,” he added
Ambassador Carlos D. Sorreta and Foreign Minister Sergey Lavrov toast to deeper Russia- ASEAN cooperation and closer friendship between the Russian and ASEAN peoples. (Photo by C. Narvaez)
During the lunch, the ASEAN Ambassadors and Foreign Minister Lavrov exchanged views on regional and international issues, including the situation in the Korean Peninsula, Syria and the larger Middle East region, Ukraine, and Russia-US relations.
They also discussed developments in ASEAN and ASEAN-Russia Dialogue. In his remarks Ambassador Sorreta lauded the growing cooperation between ASEAN and Russia and ASEAN’s readiness to further deepen the partnership. Ambassador Siviengphet Phetvorasack of Laos and Ambassador Lim Kheng Hua of Singapore each delivered remarks in their countries’ capacity as Coordinator of the ASEAN-Russia Dialogue and incoming Chair of ASEAN, respectively.
Before leaving, Minister Lavrov met and greeted the officers and staff of the Philippine Embassy. END
For more information, visit www.moscowpe.dfa.gov.ph.
The ASEAN Ambassadors, led by Ambassador Sorreta, welcome FM Lavrov upon arrival at the Philippine Embassy. (Photos by C. Narvaez)