Russian, ASEAN defense policy chiefs to meet in Moscow in run-up to summit
MOSCOW. April 7 (Interfax-AVN) - The defense chiefs of Russia and the ASEAN countries will meet in Moscow in the run-up to a summit in Sochi slated for May 2016, Russian armed forces chief of staff Army Gen. Valery Gerasimov said at a meeting with Indonesian National Armed Forces Commander Gen. Gatot Nurmantyo on Thursday.
Gerasimov said the meeting was taking place in the run-up to Indonesian President Joko Widodo's working visit to Russia to take part in a Russia-ASEAN summit to be held in Sochi in May and timed to coincide with the 20th anniversary of their dialogue partnership.
"This is a good occasion to provide an extra incentive to the development of our relations with the Association countries. In the run-up to the summit in Sochi, we'll arrange a meeting between the Russian and ASEAN defense policy chiefs," Gerasimov said.
He also thanked the Indonesian military-political leadership for its willingness to send a high-level delegation to Russia to take part in this meeting and in the work of the 5th Moscow International Security Conference.