» Putin seeks to raise Russia’s profile in Asia

Putin seeks to raise Russia’s profile in Asia

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Putin seeks to raise Russia’s profile in Asia

KUALA LUMPUR (Reuters) - President Vladimir Putin will be seeking this week seek to raise Russia’s profile in Asia and help the country grab a larger share of the region’s fast-growing energy and technology markets.

Putin, who flew into the Malaysian capital, is expected to sign a pact with the 10-member Association of South East Asian Nations (ASEAN) later on Tuesday, a day ahead of the first East Asia Summit, to which Russia has been invited as an observer with a view to deepening ties.

Business leaders said Russia’s invitation to take part in a summit that groups Japan, China and South Korea with ASEAN nations and India, Australia and New Zealand – but excludes the United States – is viewed by the Kremlin as an opportunity to broaden political and economic ties.

“Our policy is diversification,” Elena Danilova, director of foreign economic relations at Russia’s Ministry of Economic Development and Trade, told Reuters.

“We have to balance our energy policy because we have a lot of partners,” she said on the sidelines of a business forum held before the first ASEAN-Russia Summit.

More: today.reuters.com

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