MANILA, Philippines — Russian Foreign Minister Sergey Viktorovich Lavrov assured envoys from the Association of Southeast Asian Nations (Asean) of Russia's "readiness" to help the 11-member regional bloc address their oil crisis triggered by the Middle East war.
The Philippine Embassy in Russia shared this information following Lavrov's recent meeting with Asean envoys led by Philippine Ambassador to Moscow Igor Bailen.
Bailen, chairman of the Asean Moscow Committee (AMC), led fellow Asean ambassadors in the annual working luncheon hosted for AMC by Lavrov.
The embassy said Lavrov exchanged views with the ambassadors on the developments in the Middle East. He articulated Russia’s position and its efforts to find solutions that may be acceptable to all sides.
Lavrov also assured them of Russia's "readiness to help Asean with its immediate energy requirements, including oil," the embassy posted on Facebook over the weekend.
He also reiterated Russia’s support for Asean centrality, including through Asean-Russia mechanisms, in building a stable security and cooperation architecture in the Asia-Pacific region, based on respect for international law, equality, and openness, it added.
Bailen shared with Lavrov updates on the Philippines’ chairmanship of ASEAN ahead of the 48th and 49th ASEAN Summits later this year.
He also mentioned the 50th anniversary commemoration of the Treaty of Amity and Cooperation in Southeast Asia, to which Russia has been a high contracting party since 2004, the year Lavrov assumed his current position.
The embassy said Russia and Asean look forward to the adoption of their 2026-2030 Plan of Action, which is currently being finalized by their diplomatic missions in Jakarta.
"The document will seek to enhance their strategic partnership across a wide range of areas, including countering common challenges and threats, trade and investment, high-tech and knowledge-intensive industries, digitalization, energy, and the expansion of business and youth contacts," the embassy said.
Under the theme of “Navigating Our Future, Together,” the Philippines as ASEAN chairman is committed to lead ASEAN’s community-building efforts by focusing on peace and security anchors, prosperity corridors and people empowerment, while also sustaining ASEAN’s tradition of engagement with external partners all over the world, including the Russian Federation, it added.
Both sides affirmed their mutually-beneficial relationship, particularly in light of this year’s 35th anniversary commemoration of ASEAN-Russia relations, the embassy said.
