Saadet Gokce and Burc Eruygur
22 July 2026•Update: 22 July 2026
Russian Foreign Minister Sergey Lavrov said Wednesday that Moscow supports the Association of Southeast Asian Nations’ (ASEAN) centrality in regional affairs.
Lavrov made the remarks during the ASEAN-Russia Post-Ministerial Conference in the Philippine capital Manila, where he met with ASEAN Chair and Philippine Foreign Secretary Theresa P. Lazaro and the bloc's chief Kao Kim Hourn.
"Russia strongly believes that ASEAN is our reliable and like-minded partner," he told the meeting, adding that Moscow consistently supports the bloc's centrality in regional affairs and contributes its "fair share" to strengthening an Asian-led system of interstate relations based on international law, openness, and equality.
He said the common understanding of international processes reaffirmed in the Russian city of Kazan, which hosted the Russia-ASEAN summit in June, along with the commitment of leaders to establishing a more "just and resilient" multipolar world order, strengthening a "balanced architecture" of security in the Asia-Pacific, and increasing comprehensive cooperation in Greater Eurasia would provide strong support for "common efforts."
"The leaders of our countries reached important agreements in the areas of politics and security, combating new threats and challenges, and developing trade, economic, investment, cultural, educational, and humanitarian ties," Lavrov further said.
He added that Moscow sees "promising" prospects in food and energy security, as well as digital transformation, among other issues, and that the four fundamental documents adopted at the Russia-ASEAN summit in Kazan provide clear guidelines for joint work in all of these areas.
Lavrov arrived in Manila on Tuesday on a three-day visit, during which he was scheduled to attend the Russia-ASEAN Post-Ministerial Conference, the East Asia Summit, and the ASEAN Regional Forum.
Following the post-ministerial conference, Lavrov also held separate talks with his Indian, Pakistani, Bangladeshi, and Sri Lankan counterparts, during which matters related to bilateral cooperation were discussed, among other issues, according to corresponding statements by the Russian Foreign Ministry.
Lavrov and Pakistani Foreign Minister Ishaq Dar reviewed bilateral relations and reaffirmed their commitment to further strengthening cooperation in trade, energy, connectivity, and other key areas, as well as enhancing coordination at multilateral forums, according to a statement from Islamabad.
"They underscored the importance of sustained high-level engagement in advancing the Pakistan-Russia partnership," said the statement from the Pakistani Foreign Ministry, adding that they also exchanged views on key regional and international developments.
