Russian Foreign Minister informs Chinese counterpart about visits to North, South Koreas

Russian Foreign Minister Igor Ivanov informed his Chinese counterpart Tang Jiaxuan about his visits to North and South Koreas. The ministers met in Brunei on Friday, the press and information department of the Russian Foreign Ministry said.

Igor Ivanov and Tang Jiaxuan discussed the situation in the Korean Peninsula and agreed to boost dialogue on the inter-Korean settlement.

The ministers also discussed security and cooperation in Asia and gave a high appraisal to security activities of the ASEAN regional forum, as a key mechanism of dialogue on security in the Asian-Pacific region.

Russia is ready to join other regional dialogue structures and cooperation mechanisms, Igor Ivanov said.

Preparations for the 7th regular meeting between the Russian and Chinese foreign ministers in Shanghai in late August was the key issue of bilateral agenda. The ministers highly appraised the development of Russian-Chinese relations in political, trade and economic, humanitarian and other spheres after the last year's signing of the agreement on good-neighbourliness, friendship and cooperation between Russia and China.