(VOVworld)- Russia will strengthen its cooperation with ASEAN, said the Russian Foreign Ministry after a meeting on Tuesday to prepare for the Russia-ASEAN Summit in 2016. In a statement, the Russian Foreign Ministry stated that enhancing cooperation with ASEAN is one of the Russian President’s key steps to raise Russia’s prestige in the Asia Pacific region and promote Russia’s socio-economic development. The statement stressed the need to establish an integrated and equal security structure in the Asia Pacific region in line with international law and the UN Charter. Russia attaches great importance to cooperation with ASEAN in coping with traditional and newly emerging challenges and threats including terrorism and extremism. The Russia-ASEAN Summit is scheduled to take place in May 2016 in Sochi, Russia to mark the 20^th anniversary of the Russia-ASEAN dialogue partnership.