On 18 September 2013, the Royal Thai Embassy in Moscow, together with 9 Embassies of ASEAN Member States in Moscow co-hosted a reception commemorating the 46th Anniversary of ASEAN at Pushkin Museum. Attended guests include dignitaries, representatives from various diplomatic corps, high-ranking Russian government officials, eminent businessmen, and other distinguished guests.

     In the opening remarks, Her Excellency Ms. Lim Kheng Hua, Ambassador of Singapore to the Russian Federation, as the incumbent chair of the ASEAN Moscow Committee, stressed the key role of ASEAN Centrality in the regional architecture as well as the importance of ASEAN in other socio-economic issues at regional and global level. She also opined that the move towards establishing an ASEAN Community by 2015, based on enhanced connectivity and unity, will further uplift the strategic role of ASEAN in those fields. The ASEAN-Russia relations are of great potential to strengthen such role.

     In response, His Excellency Mr. Alexander Ivanov, Ambassador at-large for ASEAN-Russia relations, expressed support for ASEAN Centrality, especially since ASEAN and Russia naturally shares worldview on regional and global issues, as well as willingness to support the founding of ASEAN Community.