SINGAPORE – Prime Minister Lawrence Wong will attend the ASEAN-Russia Commemorative Summit from June 17 to 18.
He will be in Kazan, a city in southwest Russia, for the meeting which marks the 35th anniversary of ASEAN-Russia relations and the 30th anniversary of Russia as an ASEAN dialogue partner.
The summit will be hosted by Russian President Vladimir Putin, and includes a gala concert and dinner, as well as a plenary session and working lunch.
PM Wong will be accompanied by Minister for Foreign Affairs Vivian Balakrishnan.
ASEAN and Russia will discuss ways to take forward their strategic partnership at the summit, said a statement from the Prime Minister’s Office (PMO) on June 16. They will also strengthen cooperation across key areas including connectivity, education and culture.
The last iteration of the summit was in 2021 via video conference and commemorated the 30th anniversary of ASEAN-Russia relations. Then-PM Lee Hsien Loong attended the meet. He had also attended the same summit in Sochi in 2016.
ASEAN holds commemorative summits with its dialogue partners such as the European Union, the United States and China to mark significant anniversaries.
The South-east Asia regional grouping has continued to engage Russia, through platforms such as the East Asia Summit and the ASEAN Regional Forum, even after Russia invaded Ukraine in 2022. These meetings are meant to promote dialogue and coordinate responses to shared challenges.
Singapore has condemned Russia’s attacks and said that its invasion of Ukraine is a violation of international law.
In 2022, the Foreign Ministry said that Singapore would impose sanctions and restrictions on Russia to constrain its capacity to conduct war against Ukraine and undermine its sovereignty.
These are still in effect. The Republic has imposed export controls on items that can be directly used as weapons to inflict harm on or to subjugate the Ukrainians. It has also blocked certain Russian banks and financial transactions connected to Russia.
During PM Wong’s absence, Deputy Prime Minister and Minister for Trade and Industry Gan Kim Yong will be the Acting Prime Minister.
Source: The Straits Times © SPH Media Limited. Permission required for reproduction
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