MOSCOW, July 01. /ITAR-TASS/. Russia seeks deeper co-operation with institutions of the Asia-Pacific region, including the Association of Southeast Asian Nations (ASEAN) playing the leading role there, Russian Foreign Minister Sergei Lavrov told ASEAN Secretary-General Le Luong Minh on Tuesday.

“The Asia-Pacific region is among Russia's foreign policy priorities,” Lavrov said. “All leading co-operation mechanisms in the Asia-Pacific region have been created with ASEAN’s systemically important help, including the ASEAN Regional Forum and the ASEAN Defense Ministers’ Meeting.”

During his visit to Russia, ASEAN's secretary general would meet government members including Economic Development Minister Alexei Ulyukayev and Emergencies Minister Vladimir Puchkov, Lavrov said.

Contacts were also scheduled with Russia's Chamber of Commerce and Industry, members of the State Duma lower house of parliament and the secretary-general of the Shanghai Co-operation Organisation, Dmitry Mezentsev.

The secretary general said relations between ASEAN members continued to develop, noting potential for further partnership in economy, politics and culture.