MOSCOW, Oct 13 (Bernama-Sputnik/RIA Novosti) -- Russia and the Association of Southeast Asian Nations (ASEAN) member countries are exploring new areas of cooperation, including in maritime security, pandemics countermeasures and customs issues, Russian Foreign Minister Sergey Lavrov said on Tuesday, reported Sputnik/RIA Novosti.
"We are ... in the midst of a substantive dialogue on launching new areas of cooperation, including maritime security, combating pandemics, and dialogue on youth and customs issues," Lavrov said at a meeting with ASEAN Secretary-General Kao Kim Hourn of Cambodia.
The Russian foreign minister described strategic partnership with ASEAN as Russia's long-term foreign policy priority.
"In general, advancing our strategic partnership with ASEAN is one of our enduring priorities in the Asian and Eurasian directions. We see the Association as a reliable partner with whom we share a long history of cooperation on the international arena, as well as an ever-growing number of practical projects that are being implemented," Lavrov said.
This is the ASEAN chief's second visit to Russia this year. In June, he attended the Russia-ASEAN summit in Kazan, which marked the 35th anniversary of the partnership. Kao has a packed schedule in Moscow, Lavrov said, including meetings at the presidential administration, talks with ministers, a visit to the Eurasian Economic Commission, and participation in the Russian Energy Week.
-- BERNAMA-SPUTNIK/RIA NOVOSTI