VIENTIANE: Foreign ministers of Russia and China held crucial talks on the sidelines of the Association of Southeast Asian Nations (ASEAN) meeting in Laos on Thursday, the Russian Foreign Ministry said.
“Sergei Lavrov is holding talks with Chinese Foreign Minister Wang Yi on the sidelines of ASEAN ministerial events,” the foreign ministry said. The meeting comes a day after Wang Yi held talks with Ukraine’s top diplomat Dmytro Kuleba in China.
The ASEAN meetings in Laos have drawn foreign ministers and top diplomats from Southeast Asian nations and major global powers including the United States and China. The discussions, spanning three days, are expected to address critical regional concerns, including the escalating civil unrest in Myanmar, disputes in the South China Sea, and other pressing geopolitical issues.
US Secretary of State Antony Blinken and Chinese Foreign Minister Wang Yi are prominent participants in the ASEAN gatherings, reflecting heightened competition for influence in Southeast Asia between Beijing and Washington.
The meetings in Vientiane occur amidst complex geopolitical and geoeconomic changes globally, with ASEAN members and their partners emphasizing the bloc’s role in promoting peace, stability, and unity in the region. Lao Foreign Minister Saleumxay Kommasith, in his opening remarks, expressed gratitude for the collaborative efforts that have contributed to ASEAN’s achievements, stressing the need to strengthen ASEAN centrality and unity amid emerging challenges.
“In light of rapid geopolitical shifts, we must enhance ASEAN’s relevance and resilience, ensuring it remains a key player in addressing regional challenges and seizing opportunities,” Kommasith stated.
🇷🇺🇨🇳 Russia’s Foreign Minister Sergey Lavrov and Foreign Minister of China Wang Yi hold talks on the sidelines of #ASEAN events
📍 Vientiane, July 25, 2024#RussiaChina pic.twitter.com/deh5lWdhU0
— MFA Russia 🇷🇺 (@mfa_russia) July 25, 2024
