JAKARTA, April 23 (RIA Novosti, Mikhail Tsyganov) - Russia is interested in ever closer partnership with Asian and African countries to build up international peace and stability, Arthur Chilingarov said to Asian-African summiteers in the Indonesia capital. Deputy Speaker of the State Duma, parliament's lower house, the famous Arctic explorer is leading Russia's summit delegation.
Russia has long been engaging in dynamic contacts with Asian and African countries' leaders and activists on bilateral and multilateral arrangements alike, he added.
Chilingarov read to the gathering a greeting message from President Vladimir Putin.
"Russia is an Asian country, whether we like it or not, so we can't stand aloof to Asian political and economic developments," he said in an exclusive RIA Novosti interview.
The summit has gathered delegates from more than a hundred countries. Close on a half of them are represented at the level of heads of state, prime ministers or their deputies.
Russia has an observer status.
