Ankara: Russian Foreign Minister Sergey Lavrov arrived in the Philippines' capital Manila to engage in a series of meetings on the sidelines of the ongoing Association of Southeast Asian Nations (ASEAN) summit. His first meeting was with Thongsavanh Phomvihane, Laos' deputy prime minister and foreign minister.

According to Anadolu Agency, the discussions between the two diplomats revolved around implementing agreements reached by their countries' leaders, with a particular emphasis on expanding trade, investment, and humanitarian cooperation. The Russian Foreign Ministry released a statement highlighting these discussions.

Lavrov opened the talks by expressing Russia's appreciation for its relationship with Laos, emphasizing the regular contacts between their leaders. "We value our relations and the regular contacts between our leaders. There are many tasks set by our leaders. Today we will discuss how we can contribute to their effective implementation," Lavrov stated.

He noted that Russia and Laos commemorated the 65th anniversary of diplomatic relations last year and are soon to celebrate the 15th anniversary of their strategic partnership declaration. Lavrov also mentioned that Laos' President Thongloun Sisoulith attended Russia's Victory Day celebrations in Moscow on May 9, while Prime Minister Sonexay Siphandone participated in a Russia-ASEAN summit in Kazan in June.

The Russian Foreign Ministry further reported that both sides exchanged views on international issues, confirming similar positions on key regional and global matters. Lavrov later attended a gala dinner hosted by Philippine Foreign Secretary Enrique Manalo ahead of the ASEAN ministerial meetings.