Najib arrives in Sochi for ASEAN-Russia Commemorative Summit

Malaysia's Prime Minister Datuk Seri Najib Tun Razak arrived in Russia's Black Sea resort city of Sochi Wednesday to participate in the ASEAN-Russia Commemorative Summit, hours after concluding his working visit to court investment and trade in the United Kingdom.

Accompanied by his wife Datin Seri Rosmah Mansor, the special aircraft ferrying Najib and his delegation landed at Sochi International Airport at 5.30 pm (Malaysian time 10.30 pm) before they proceeded to Radisson Blu Paradise Resort & Spa where the prime minister would be staying while in Sochi.

The two-day ASEAN-Russia Commemorative Summit beginning Thursday is held to mark the 20 years of ASEAN-Russia dialogue relations.

The summit also serves as a platform for the leaders of the ASEAN member states and Russia to chart the future direction of the partnership.

ASEAN groups Brunei, Cambodia, Laos, Indonesia, Malaysia, Myanmar, the Philippines, Singapore, Thailand and Vietnam.

During the commemorative summit, the leaders are expected to adopt the Sochi Declaration entitled Moving Towards a Strategic Partnership for Mutual Benefit.

While here, Najib is scheduled to meet Russian President Vladimir Putin to discuss issues of mutual concern.