MANILA, Philippines, July 21. /TASS/. Russian Foreign Minister Sergey Lavrov will discuss the situation in the Asia-Pacific region with his ASEAN counterparts, including the risks of its militarization due to the policies of Western countries.
As Russian Foreign Ministry Spokeswoman Maria Zakharova said earlier, Lavrov will visit Manila on July 21-23 to take part in meetings of ASEAN foreign ministers in the Russia-ASEAN format, the East Asia Summit (EAS), and the ASEAN Regional Forum (ARF).
The diplomat said the Russian delegation led by Lavrov will present its assessment of the situation in the Asia-Pacific region at the upcoming events, "including the growing potential for conflict amid the West's policy of militarizing the Asia-Pacific, introducing NATO's military capabilities into the region, and expanding bloc-based mechanisms."
The Russian side will also focus on building a "seamless transcontinental space of multifaceted cooperation" in Eurasia by combining the potential of ASEAN, the Eurasian Economic Union, and the Shanghai Cooperation Organization.
Three areas of focus
