Moscow prioritizes Asia policy, relations with Laos - Lavrov
VIENTIANE. July 26 (Interfax) - Russia values partner relationship with Laos, Russian Foreign Minister Sergei Lavrov said.
"We appreciate our partnership with Laos, which has a very long and glorious history and is characterized with a feeling of friendship and neighborliness between our countries," Lavrov told Lao Prime Minister Thongloun Sisoulith at a meeting.
Moscow prioritizes Asia policy and relations with Laos and other ASEAN member countries, Lavrov said. He described the Russia-ASEAN summit in Sochi as a very important event.
"Laos has played a significant role in organizing that meeting in the capacity of the ASEAN chair country," he said.
Laos is hosting a number of ASEAN events, including a Russia-ASEAN meeting held on Monday.
The Lao prime minister said he was pleased to meet with Lavrov, "an old friend and a colleague." "Your visit here is a large contribution of Russia to cooperation with the [ASEAN] Association and a guarantee of success of our events," he said.
Before the meeting, the Lao prime minister cordially welcomed Lavrov and the Russian delegation in Russian.