"ASEAN has established itself as the authoritative regional alliance," Lavrov said during the Russia-ASEAN ministerial meeting in the Philippine capital of Manila.
Russia is sure that "the implementation of the plans for the ASEAN community development until 2025, the strengthening of its internal interrelatedness will contribute to the consolidation of the position of the branchy system of regional integration mechanisms," Lavrov added.
A number of ASEAN events are carried out in Manila on August 2-8, including the 50th ASEAN Ministerial Meeting (AMM), the 7th East Asia Summit Foreign Ministers Meeting (7th EAS FMM) and the 24th ASEAN Regional Forum (ARF).
ASEAN was established by Indonesia, Malaysia, the Philippines, Singapore and Thailand in 1967. Since then, Brunei, Myanmar, Laos, Vietnam and Cambodia have joined the organization. The association strives to enhance regional cooperation in the economic, social, cultural and other spheres, as well as promote peace and security.
